SINGAPORE: The top PSLE student last year said reading is her most important habit.

Natasha Nabila Muhammad Nasir, who is also last year's top Malay student, believes that reading helped her achieve the record aggregate of 294.

Sharing her thoughts at a storytelling and dialogue session organised recently by the National Library Board (NLB), Natasha said she started reading on her own when she was about 2-and-a-half years old and the activity has increased her general knowledge, built up her vocabulary and helped her in composition writing.

Reading is also a key element in her studies.

"Other aspects include memorising, researching through internet, but I think reading still ranks number one because I started reading first," she said.

Natasha's love for reading should be attributed to her mother, Zaharah Othman. The housewife said she started reading to Natasha while she was in her womb.

"By giving her a head-start in reading, she has that focus and concentration which have enabled her to sit and read for a long time," said Madam Zaharah.

Natasha tries to bring a book with her every time she leaves her house and her habit is in line with NLB's advice on how to inspire one's child to read. Among the advice is to share stories with the child and to read out loud.

Natasha's PSLE score of 294 – the highest since the current aggregate system was introduced in 1991 – has secured her a place at Raffles Girls' School.


- CNA/so