AN ASSESSMENT OF READING CULTURE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS AND THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ABSTRACT: This study was carried out to examine reading culture of primary school pupils and their academic performance in english language using 6 selected schools from UYO local government area of Akwa Ibom state. Specifically, the study examined relationship between pupils’ attitude towards reading and their academic performance in English language in Uyo Local Government Area, relationship between poor libraries or none at all and pupils’ academic performance in English language in Uyo Local Government Area, relationship between socio-economic status of parents and pupils’ academic performance in English language in Uyo Local Government Area.
The study employed the survey descriptive research design. A total of 96 responses were validated from the survey. From the responses obtained and analysed, the findings revealed that there is no relationship between primary school pupils’ attitude towards reading and their academic performance in English language in Uyo Local Government Area, There is no relationship between poor libraries or none at all and primary pupils’ academic performance in English language in Uyo Local Government Area, There is no relationship between socio-economic status of parents and primary school pupils’ academic performance in English language in Uyo Local .
The study recommend That school authorities should employ qualified school Librarians to man the school library, Government should equip the existing school libraries with good and adequate library resources that are rich in quantity, quality and varied to reflect the school curriculum. Government should imbibe the culture of acquiring, stocking current books and other educational resource materials either by purchase, donation, gift, exchange and bequeath, among others, The school authorities should include the reading hours in the school time-table, Ministry of Education and Local government should promote reading through youth-based organizations such as: Press and Reading clubs.