HIP-FINCO Reads: Interactive Reading Corner (IRC) Design Challenge
2025/2026 Cohort

The IRC Design Challenge 2025 aims to aims to:

  • Inspire teachers and students through the crafting of inviting reading corners that cultivate positive reading habits and boost reading proficiency amongst students,
  • Identify and celebrate best practices for IRC designs to serve as inspiration for teachers new to the programme, and
  • Encourage the use of digital tools in reading spaces (where available) to make reading more fun and engaging.

The challenge is open to all schools in the 2025/2026 cohort only.

Four (4) winners will be chosen to win:
2x Grand Prize winners: RM1,000 Cash Prize
2x Runners-Up: RM500 Cash Prize

Winners will be announced on 21 August 2025.
All teacher participants will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Submit your entries by 11:59pm on 21 August 2025
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Guidelines

Planning and Designing

While waiting for the books to arrive:

  • Work with your students to brainstorm and choose a theme or concept for your IRC.
    • Let the students share ideas for how the reading space should look and feel.
  • Show them examples from the IRC Toolkit, consult your Educational Partner for ideas, or look into the helpful resources that we’ve shared.
  • If you plan to set up your IRC incorporating digital tools – Twinkl, consider using resources such as:
    • QR code displays linking to digital books
    • Simple e-book collections (e.g., via Twinkl or free platforms)
    • Read-aloud websites or YouTube book channels (e.g., Storyline Online)
    • Digital reading trackers or reflection forms (e.g., Google Forms)
  • You can also prepare complementary materials such as:
    • Reading trackers
    • Word wall
    • Book suggestion box
  • Use this template to guide your IRC planning session

Setting Up the Reading Corner

Set up the reading corner with your students according to your plan

Entry Submission

Submit your entry online or offline for a chance to win up to RM 1,000! As part of your submission, be sure to include:
(a) Photos or videos of your IRC
(b) A short explanation answering the questions in the submission form

Helpful Resources

  • Twinkl: Offers printable resources like posters, trackers, and themed classroom décor.

  • Pinterest: Great for visual ideas. Try searching for “reading corner ideas” or “classroom reading display”. Save

  • Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT): Free and affordable teaching materials including reading logs and genre posters.

  • Canva for Education: Create your own posters, signs, and visuals for the IRC.

  • Scholastic Teacher Resources: Offers downloadable tools, like comprehension posters and logbooks.

  • These are just suggestions—feel free to use any tools or websites for ideas to set up your IRC.

What the judges are looking for

Design

The IRC design uses space, materials, and decoration creatively around a clear theme. It is practical, with a layout and furniture that is functional and easy for students to use.

Replicability

The IRC is adaptable and easily replicated by other teachers in their school or classroom.

Student Input

Students are actively involved in brainstorming ideas, making decisions, and helping to set up the reading corner.

Digital Integration

IRC includes digital tools (e.g., Twinkl, e-books, trackers, QR codes) that enhance the reading experience. Schools with no access will not be penalised.

  1. Open to HIP-FINCO Reads schools for the 2025/2026 cohort only.
  2. Each school to submit a maximum of one (1) entry.
  3. Entries must be submitted in English.
  4. All submissions must be emailed to FINCO by 11.59pm on 11 August 2025.
  5. Permission to publish: By entering this competition, you agree to give FINCO your permission to publish any materials for promotional or educational purposes on their online platforms. The publication will take place on the FINCO website, on Facebook and Instagram and it can be used for public relations purposes. In addition, you assure us that you own the rights to the text, photos and videos and that you grant us the right to use them. We assume no responsibility for the contents of the individual contributions.
  6. Use and Disclosure of Personal Data and Purpose Specification: FINCO will keep confidential all personal information collected through this competition. We may however disclose such information to the following parties in the course of using the information for the reason it was collected:
    • A person or company acting on behalf of FINCO;
    • Any other person or company who has undertaken to keep such information confidential, provided they have a right to such information.
  7. Data Retention: We will keep any personal information you give us as long as there is a reason to do so, for instance to satisfy the law or regulations, or to protect our interests. If not, then we will destroy it by purging it from our electronic, manual, and other filing systems according to our internal procedures and schedules.