THE FACTORS AFFECTING READING CULTURE OF STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

The high demand for elimination of illiteracy has in various forms elicited response from the Nigerian Government. This has resulted in the government declaration of Universal primary Education (UPE) in 1976 and the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in 2003 which increased students’ enrollment. Reading according to Moyle (1969) is thinking the thoughts that a writer is communicating to his readers by way of the written or printed words. Suleiman and Crossman (1980) defined reading as interactive not passive. They viewed reading as sense making, an act of becoming, where new questions, insights and understanding that were once held are subject to modification, re-interpretation and even dismissal. Reading can also be seen as a psycholinguistic process involving the interaction of languages and thought as language is decoded and meaning is reconstructed. Kolawole (1979).

The importance of good reading culture cannot be over-emphasized as it provides individuals welfare, social progress and international understanding. It also provides skills, knowledge and right attitude and frees one from boredom or idleness, among others. Reading is not just for school but for life since it enhance the success at both school and beyond. It has been observed that some of the disadvantages of poor reading culture are high failure rate, increase in students’ dropout rate, continuous high rate of unskilled manpower, poverty, frustration, loss of self esteem and illiteracy among others. There is a general feeling that students in tertiary institutions lack reading culture. This may be borne out of the poor habits formed at the lower academic levels. Many lecturers complain about the poor reading habits among their students which may have implications on the personal and intellectual development. Edomwandagbon (2005) reported that if students who were preparing for both or either internal and external examinations avail themselves of facilities in the various libraries, read their notes and textbooks diligently, the incidence of cheating, impersonation and examination malpractice and cultism will be greatly reduced in Nigerian higher institutions of learning. The irony is that the case under discussion cuts across even affecting students in University of Benin.

Statement of the Problem

The general feeling that poor reading habits or culture among University of Benin students is getting out of control very terrifying and infuriating. The high failure rate in examinations, the increase in students’ drop out rate and the production of half-baked graduates among others could be as a result of poor reading culture and have adverse effect on Nigeria as a nation, socially, economically and polity. Governments efforts in fighting illiteracy is being thwarted by the students who have refused to inculcate good reading culture either for knowledge or for pleasure. The after math is that much needed manpower which the University of Benin should have produced may fall below required standard because of the students nonchalant attitude towards their studies with regard to reading. Many students who would have contributed immensely may drop out because of their poor performances. Many factors may predispose students to poor reading culture. The statement problem of this study therefore is whether there are factors affecting the reading culture in university of Benin.