How to get children reading again has become one of the highly debated questions in education.

At the centre of it sits an argument over what young people should be reading at school, with the campaigners behind the Lit in Colour movement suggesting that the answer lies in reforming English Literature education.

They argue that GCSE reading lists are out of step with modern Britain and fail to reflect the diversity of the society in which students live.

Calling for a broader balance of voices, including more writers of colour, Lit in Colour claims changes could help reignite a love of reading among students who currently feel disengaged.

Some pupils at The Swan School in Oxfordshire say they are already seeing the impact of the campaign.

Saba told Sky News: “Difference and diversity is important in literature because I think it helps everyone deepen that understanding of the world.

“It’s also important that everyone can see themselves in literature.”

The campaign has gained momentum as concerns grow about falling reading engagement.

Research carried out by Public First for Lit in Colour suggests 33% of young people say the books they read at school put them off reading, while 68% want an English curriculum that better reflects modern Britain.

Caspar, another student, said exposure to a wider range of voices has changed how he sees the world.

“I think it’s made me more empathetic and open to other people’s lives and what’s going on,” he told Sky News.

“You never really understand what’s going through someone’s life until you actually see what’s happening.”

Caleb added that diverse voices in reading can make “us aware that we can do anything, especially for me, being a young black man in this generation”.

“It makes me aware that I can do so much,” he added

And Bana said: “It just leads on to different perspectives that some students might not be able to see or are not familiar with.”

On getting kids reading, Harriet Hintzer, head of English at The Swan School, told Sky News that campaigns like Lit in colour “shows you once again that kids do love reading, if you give them the right stuff”.

“I think campaigns like Lit in Colour make it far easier than it used to be,” she added. “There are now a lot of resources available, and we’re prepared to share them.”

The government’s recent Curriculum and Assessment Review has recommended that schools ensure pupils study diverse books and poems, but campaigners argue the pace of change remains too slow.

Critics warn however that expanding the curriculum risks diluting academic rigour, insisting that classic writers such as Shakespeare and Dickens should remain central pillars of English literature.

Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, educator and director at the anti-identity politics group Don’t Divide Us, told Sky News: “Shakespeare or Dickens are not just personifications of literary talent; they are human beings in a particular time and place.

“Their social and cultural experiences inform their work, but what makes them still of value today is their unique literary talent.”

Dr Cuthbert also argues that students are being “sold short” if literary quality is compromised, adding that diverse books “might be what you want to read in your own time, for pleasure at home”.

“But,” she said, “they are simply not of sufficient literary quality to be on the curriculum.”

Currently, some exam boards include works by former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman, Dame Meera Syal, Kit De Waal and Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro.

Some curricula also include works by the authors Chinua Achebe, Zadie Smith and Vikram Seth.

Read more from Sky News:
Doctors warn of ‘horrific’ impact of tech and devices on children
Nearly a third of kids can’t use books when starting school

The spokesperson for the Department for Education said: “High and rising standards are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and ensure all children can achieve and thrive.

“As part of the government’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, we will ensure that alongside classic English literature, the curriculum will allow space for teachers to choose a wider range of texts and authors.”

Around 4,000 students from 63 schools of Noida and Greater Noida participated in the initial phase of the chess competition. The competition is being organized in two age groups. The first category includes students up to 12 years of age and the second category includes students above 12 years of age. Players from major schools of the area are participating in it. The competition is being organized in collaboration with UP Chess Sports Association and Gautam Buddha Nagar Chess Association. The association’s international arbiter Lalit Kapoor, joint secretary Atul Nigam and senior arbiter team will monitor the final matches.

There were four rounds of matches on the first day
On the first day i.e. Saturday, the rapid rounds of the competitions started at around 10.30 am as per FIDE rules. A total of four rounds of matches were played on the initial day, while three rounds of matches were being played on the second day i.e. Sunday. Its final match will also be played today itself. A total of seven rounds consisting of two days were to be played on the basis of classic system. More than 250+ participants took part in it. There is a time limit of 15 minutes for each player and an additional 10 seconds will be added for each move.

Winners will get prizes
On the second day of the finale, prizes will be awarded to the top five players in both age groups. The first winner will be given a prize of Rs 21 thousand, the second winner will be given Rs 11 thousand and the third place winner will be given Rs 5100. Also, the fourth winner will be given a prize of Rs 3100 and the fifth winner will be given a prize of Rs 2100. Participation certificates will also be given to all players.

The American women’s hockey team improved to 2-0 at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics Saturday.

Team USA captain Hilary Knight scored in a second straight game, tying the U.S. Olympic record in the Americans’ 5-0 rout of Finland. Her 14 career Winter Olympic goals match totals set by Natalie Darwitz and Katie King.

The Americans wore down an illness-hampered Finnish squad, extending Finland’s winless Olympic record against the U.S. to 0-11. Vice President JD Vance and his family attended and cheered on the tournament-favorite Americans.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Team USA defender Megan Keller had a goal and two assists, while Alex Carpenter, Taylor Heise and Abbey Murphy also scored. Aerin Frankel stopped 11 shots for her first shutout in just her second career Olympic game.

The Finns returned to the ice as a full team for the first time since last being together at practice Tuesday. That night, four players developed symptoms of norovirus. Two days later, Finland’s 23-player roster was down to eight forwards and two goalies, prompting Olympic officials to postpone the team’s tournament opener against Canada to Feb. 12.

2026 MILAN CORTINA OLYMPICS: EVERYTHING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR’S WINTER GAMES

On Friday, coach Tero Lehterä vowed his team would play the Americans even if it meant having a minimum of five forwards and a goalie. After canceling their morning skate Saturday, the Finns took the ice six hours later with a full 22-player contingent.

Goalie Sanni Ahola stopped 44 shots and kept the Finns in the game through a first period in which she stopped 14 of 15 shots. Carpenter was the only one who beat her, scoring with a one-timer from the slot on a power-play goal with just under five minutes left in the period.

Vance was seated next to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.

Vance and his family entered during the intermission at the end of the first period, with the U.S. leading 1-0. Paul joined them shortly after. Paul’s fiancée, Jutta Leerdam, is a speedskater and is competing for her native Netherlands at the Winter Games.

U.S. second lady Usha Vance wore a sweatshirt with “USA” in big letters.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Among those also seated near Vance were 2010 Olympic figure skating gold medalist Evan Lysacek and hockey’s twin sisters, Hall of Famers Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando. They were members of the U.S. gold medal-winning team at the 2018 Winter Games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., asked attendees at a campaign event Saturday to show government-issued photo ID, even while opposing similar standards for voters in federal elections.

Email confirmation information for an Ossoff rally in Atlanta detailed that “a matching government-issued ID will be verified against the RSVP list by name to enter.”

Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., who is running against Ossoff for a Senate seat in 2026, blasted what he called a double standard.

VULNERABLE DEM’S SUPPORT FOR ALEX PRETTI COLLIDES WITH LAKEN RILEY ACT ANNIVERSARY

“Typical Jon Ossoff to say one thing and do another. It’s ridiculous that Jon Ossoff would require a government ID to listen to him speak about why you shouldn’t need a government ID to vote,” Collins said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Ossoff’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

In the wake of election security concerns highlighted by President Donald Trump in previous years, Republicans across Congress have made demands for tighter voter registration standards.

Most recently, lawmakers led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., have called for the passage of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.

HOUSE CONSERVATIVES THREATEN EXTENDED SHUTDOWN OVER ELECTION INTEGRITY MEASURE

In its current form, the SAVE Act would embed proof of citizenship requirements into existing voter registration pathways and require states to conduct stricter audits of their voter rolls. The bill also defines documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and links it to some form of photo ID.

It is illegal for noncitizens to participate in federal elections, although Republicans maintain that the standard is applied inconsistently, leading to easily exploitable election vulnerabilities. 

Democrats like Ossoff have blasted the legislation, arguing it would only make it harder for people with limited access to photo ID to participate in elections.

SCHUMER FACES BACKLASH AFTER CALLING SAVE ACT ‘JIM CROW’ DESPITE PREVIOUS ALLEGATION FALLING FLAT

“This is a nakedly partisan, totally unworkable, bad-faith bill cynically intended to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters,” Ossoff said in a statement on the SAVE Act as the bill made its way through the House of Representatives last year.

An earlier version of the SAVE already passed the House in April 2025, attracting bipartisan support in a 216-208 vote. Four Democrats joined Republicans to pass the bill.

Despite Ossoff’s previous opposition to the SAVE Act, his campaign event framed the requirement for photo ID as a security measure.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“Due to security requirements … be ready to show ID that matches our RSVP list and these arrival instructions (printed or on your phone),” the campaign event’s confirmation email said.

The House Rules Committee, the final gatekeeper before most legislation reaches the chamber floor, is expected to consider an updated version of the SAVE Act in the House of Representatives Monday.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, asserted that some Republicans would “absolutely” vote for her in a general election as the freshman congresswoman battles to become the state’s Democratic nominee for the Senate.

During an appearance on MS NOW’s “The Weeknight,” Crockett was asked by co-host Michael Steele whether Republicans could be convinced she is “the representative they need in Washington” if she were to reach the general election.

“Oh, absolutely,” Crockett replied. “Now, Michael, you can maybe talk about this a little bit more because I think the Democrats have a perception of what Republicans want.”

She argued that Republican voters “aren’t looking for somebody that is Republican lite,” and if they were, “they could just go and get the real thing.”

WHITE PROGRESSIVES CRITICIZING JASMINE CROCKETT’S SENATE BID NEED TO ‘SIT THEIR A– DOWN,’ SAYS LIBERAL HOST

“What they want is somebody that they know who they are,” she contended. “I have text messages from Republicans that have made it clear that if there is a certain person that ends up making it through, they are absolutely voting for me because they know who I am.”

While Crockett admitted she may not be Republican voters’ “perfect candidate,” she insisted that President Donald Trump wasn’t either, and he was still able to garner their support and win the White House.

“When Republicans went out and voted for a less than perfect candidate in Donald Trump — they don’t seek perfection, whereas Democrats typically do,” she claimed. “And, so, while I may not be their perfect candidate, they know that. I know the issues. They know that I know how to work across the aisle when necessary.

“And they also know that I don’t take any mess. And when you are Texas, then it’s a matter of you don’t mess with Texas.”

In December, while talking to CNN, Crockett said she wasn’t trying to win over supporters of President Donald Trump.

“I don‘t know that we’ll necessarily convert all of Trump‘s supporters,” she said. “That’s not our goal.” 

CARVILLE SAYS CROCKETT’S RHETORIC OFFENDS PEOPLE WITH ‘ANY SENSE OF HUMANITY,’ WILL NOT BE VIABLE CANDIDATE

The Texas congresswoman is running against state Rep. James Talarico, D-Texas, in the Lone Star State’s Democratic Senate primary.

Despite her quick rise in U.S. politics, some on the left have begun to question Crockett’s candidacy if she were to reach the general election.

Last week, liberal New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg argued that former “Saturday Night Live” star Bowen Yang and his podcast co-host Matt Rogers “were right” to criticize Crockett’s Senate campaign on their “Las Culturistas” show earlier this month.

Goldberg noted that while the controversy surrounding Yang and Rogers’ comments may seem trivial, “it merits attention” because “the underlying issue could cost Democrats the Senate this fall.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

The two comedians received backlash after Rogers urged listeners not to donate to Crockett’s campaign, criticizing politicians who make everything “about themselves.” Yang agreed with Rogers, but both apologized days later for the remarks.

As noted by Goldberg, Yang and Rogers faced pushback from Crockett and her supporters, who accused the hosts of racism and misogyny.

“But Rogers and Yang were right to be skeptical of Crockett, who almost certainly cannot win a general election in Texas,” the columnist contended. “Those who disagree have every right to criticize them, and me. But progressives shouldn’t let a retrograde style of internet discourse inhibit them from pointing out the obvious.”

Goldberg asserted “it’s not race and gender that make Crockett a bad candidate,” but rather her “theory about how Democrats can win Texas is wrong.” She said that while she can understand why “lots of Democrats adore Crockett,” she also sees why others are turned off by her political style.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“Some of her insults are in bad taste — she has called Texas’ governor, Greg Abbott, who uses a wheelchair, ‘Hot Wheels’ — but it’s easy to see why Democrats who feel brutalized by Trump want champions willing to go low,” Goldberg wrote.

Aside from Crockett’s sometimes brash style, the columnist also made the case that Talarico has proven he has the ability to do something that Crockett has yet to accomplish — turn a red seat blue.

Fox News’ Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

A big news related to Provincial Guard Dal (PRD) volunteers has come to light in Uttarakhand. Due to lack of budget, the services of about 2900 PRD soldiers deployed in police stations and traffic system have been terminated from this month. Due to this, a large number of volunteers are facing employment crisis.

It is being told that during the Chardham Yatra in the year 2024, extensive deployment of PRD volunteers was made in various districts for security, traffic and system management. A budget of about Rs 32 crore was approved for this. However, now this budget has ended, due to which the concerned soldiers have been removed from duty.

Instructions issued to all districts

On behalf of the Directorate of Youth Welfare and Provincial Guard Team, instructions have been issued to all the District Youth Welfare Officers in this regard. It has been clarified in the instructions that due to non-availability of budget, it is not possible to continue the services of additionally deployed PRD soldiers.

more than 10 thousand PRD jawan registered

Talking about the current situation, a total of more than 10 thousand PRD volunteers are registered in the state, out of which currently 7514 volunteers are working on duty in various departments. The services of these volunteers are being taken in many government departments including Secretariat, Assembly, Excise Department, RTO, Mandi Committee, Jal Sansthan, Education Department and Technical Education Department.

These 7514 PRD volunteers on duty include about 6608 men and 908 women. However, due to the end of duty of 2900 soldiers removed from police stations and traffic, it is feared that the departmental work and financial condition of the volunteers will be affected.

PRD organization can agitate

There is also resentment among PRD volunteers regarding this entire matter. A meeting of the Provincial Rakshak Dal Interest Organization is proposed today, in which further strategy and options like agitation will be decided. The organization says that for a long time PRD soldiers have been serving with limited honorarium and Budget It is injustice to them to be removed from duty in the name of termination.