FACTORS INFLUENCING POOR READING CULTURE AMONGST SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IKWERRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The paper sets out to investigate the factors influencing poor reading culture amongst secondary school students in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Additionally, the paper adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of study comprised all public junior and senior secondary students in the Local Government under review. A sample size of 200 students was selected using random sampling technique from five selected public secondary schools in Ikwerre Local Government Area. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire using a four-point likert scale determined by cron brach Alpha method with a reliability index of 0.82. Data collected was analyzed utilizing mean and standard deviation to proffer solution to the research questions. The findings of the paper indicate that lack of well-equipped school libraries, inadequate provision of reading materials at home, addiction to social media and use of smart phones, lack of parental encouragement and poor teaching method significantly promoted poor reading culture among secondary school students in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Based on the findings, the paper concluded that poor reading culture is not occasioned by a single factor but multiplicity of factors. The study therefore recommended inter-alia that the Rivers State Government and Ikwerre Local Government Area authorities should update school libraries with relevant books and ensure that teachers and students maximize their usage.