Singapore pays citizens to read daily
Singapore is paying people to read books – can it fix the reading crisis?
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Warm-up
- How often do you read books or articles?
- Where do you like to read for 15 minutes?
- What helps you focus when you read?
Vocabulary
- scheme
- an official plan that organises how something will work
- doomscrolling
- reading a lot of bad news on your phone for a long time
- concentration
- the ability to focus your mind on one thing
- habit
- something you do regularly, often without thinking
- session
- a set period of time for one activity
- coin
- a small unit that can be collected like money in a game
- redeem
- to exchange points or coins for money or a reward
- incentive
- something that encourages you to do an activity
Reading
Singapore has started a new scheme to fight doomscrolling. Citizens are paid small amounts if they read for at least 15 minutes a day. The city-state says this may improve concentration, critical thinking and imagination.
Under the plan, one reading session per day earns 20 virtual coins. People must log the session on a government website. When readers collect 1,000 coins, the points can be redeemed for S$1. That equals 50 daily sessions for one dollar.
Melissa Tam of the National Library Board said good habits grow from small steps. The government is also studying a daily time limit on social media for young people. Singapore often uses incentives, such as vouchers for walking. Despite the concern, its 15-year-olds topped the world for reading in the 2025 PISA tests, ahead of China and Taiwan.
Comprehension
- How long must people read to join the scheme each day?
- How many virtual coins does one reading session give?
- Where do readers log their daily session?
- How many coins are needed to redeem S$1?
- What global test did Singapore top in 2025 for reading?
Grammar focus
Should / ought to
Use should / ought to to give advice or say what is a good idea. Both are similar; should is more common in speech. (Examples constructed.)
- Citizens should read for at least 15 minutes a day.
- Schools ought to offer small incentives for reading.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence using the verb in brackets.
- Readers (spend) ___ at least fifteen minutes a day.
- Parents (encourage) ___ children to read, not scroll.
- Schools (offer) ___ incentives so students try reading.
- People (log) ___ sessions each day for coins.
- Readers (limit) ___ social media to improve focus.
Discussion
- Would a cash incentive make you read more? Why or why not?
- What time of day is best for a reading session?
- Should social media have a daily time limit for teens?
- What book or topic should schools promote to build a habit?
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