THE PROBLEM FACING POOR READING HABIT AMONG STUDENaTS OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IKERE-EKITI

THE PROBLEM
FACING POOR READING HABIT AMONG STUDENTS OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IKERE-EKITI

BY

A RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING
EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

IN PARTIAL FULFUIMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR IN ACCOUNTING EDUCATION

JANUARY, 2016

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study is to ascertain the problem of poor reading
habit and consequences on academic performance of students in college of
education in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State to be professional accountants. It also
determines some measurer to be taken to facilitate the success of the students
both in school exams and their professional exams, the sample of the comprised
of 50 students in four tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. A self designed
questionnaire tagged “the problem of poor reading habit and consequences on
academic performance of students in college of education in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti
State. The validity and reliability of the instrument were ensured before the
instrument was used.  The findings of the
study revealed a number of difficulties relating to accounting syllabus, lack
of motivation of students, adequacy of teachers, poor reading habit (Quantity
and qualification) were encountered by the students in training for their
professional examinations. It was therefore concluded that poor reading habit
style adopted by the students, non-coverage of syllabus for the students by the
lecturers, non-availability of instructional materials, inadequate qualified
lecturers and crossing of science graduates into accounting field are the major
contributing poor to the failure of accounting students in their professional
exams. It was recommended that the authorities of school training accounting
students must take appropriate measure to correct these factors.   

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                         

Certification                                                                                   

Dedication                                                                                       

Acknowledgements                                                                          

Abstract                                                                                           

Table of contents
                                                                             

 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION                                          

Background of
the Study                                                                         

Statement of the
Study                                                                     

Purpose of the Study                                                                        

Significant of
the Study                                                                    

Scope of the Study                                                                                     

  Research
Question                                                                          

CHAPTER TWO: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE           

A Review of the
Literature                                                             

Theoretical Frame
Work                                                                       

The Reading
Process                                                                        

Word Recognition                                                                                      

A Development
Perspective on Reading                                          

Factors which Influence
Reading                                                               

Physical and Intellectual
Development                                             

Emotional Development
                                                                           

Social Cultural
Background                                                             

Education Factors                                                                                

A Modern, Technology-Driven
World                                                       

The Relationship
between Reading Ability And Academic Performance   

Reading Comprehension
and Academic Performance                      

Reading Skills
and Achievement in Mathematics                                     

Language Skills,
Reading and Academic Performance                     

Cognitive Skills,
Reading and Academic Performance                     

Reading Instruction
and Academic Performance                              

Studies Showing
Contrary Ridings                                                 

Effectiveness of
Remedial Reading Instruction                                

Controversy
around Reading Remediation                                              

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY     

The Research Design
                                                             

Area of the Study                                                                  

Population for
the Study                                                               

The Research
Sample Technique                                           

Research Instrument
for the Study                                         

Method Data
Collection                                                                    

Data Analysis of
Reading Ability                                          

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT OF DATA ANALYSIS                 

Results of Data
Analysis                                                                

Descriptive Statistics
                                                             

Discussion of Results
                                                            

Development Factors
                                                            

Reading Remediation                                                             

Reading Behaviour                                                                

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY CONCLUSION 
RECOMMENDATION

  
AND SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDIES

Summary                                                                                

Conclusion                                                                                                 

Recommendation                                                                    

Suggestion for Further Studies                                                        

Reference                                                                              

Questionnaire                                                                              

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to
the Study

For most people living in
today’s modem world, reading is an everyday, ordinary task to which little
thought is given. Yet reading is one of the most important skills that we can
acquire (Grove & Hauptfleisch, 2002). Reading is not simply about
mechanical skill. It helps us understand our world by enabling us to learn
about our past and plan for our future.

Understanding what we are reading is far more important
to us than the mechanical skill of reading. Without comprehension. Reading
would serve no purpose. Likosky (Libretto, 2005) notes that readings help us into contact with our
culture and the values and principles adhered to by our community. It can help
us develop our own ideas about relationships (Smith & Robinson, 2000). It
includes the world of thoughts and emotions (Frank, 2000). “A person who
can read well, can function more effectively in everyday activities and can
satisfy his emotional and intellectual needs more effectively” (Grove
& Hauptfleisch, 2002:1). Many of our day-to-day tasks require reading,
including the simple tasks of banking, following directions and shopping. For
an illiterate person, many of life’s seemingly mundane and ordinary tasks,
which many people take for granted, become insurmountable hurdles.

Living in the 21st century with its rapid advancement
in technology, we are faced with the so-called ‘information explosion’ or
‘information overload’. Some of this information comes to us via the electronic
media such as television and radio, for which reading is not required. But much
of the information comes to us in the form of the written word such as books,
newspapers, magazines and computers. The worldwide web, specifically, has made
masses of information easily available to people who have access to the
internet. E-Mail has transformed the world into a global village by making
electronic media an effective global form of communication. Advances in
computer technology have been, and continue to be, rapid. An array of software
packages provides information on a wide variety of topics. In order to be able
to process all of this information, reading is a prerequisite skill.

The value of reading is
unlikely to be challenged by many people. It ~ so much a part of modem society that most people would
acknowledge its important:. Reading is well integrated into our education
systems generally, such that educational success is almost synonymous with
reading success. It pervades almost all work that is done in the classroom and
according to Greyling and Joubert (2008) there is a direct relationship between
successful studies and good reading skills. Reading is probably one of the most
important skills that a student learns at school, if not the most
important. It forms the foundation for all further learning and without the
ability to read effectively, a child will experience difficulty learning.
“Success in reading very often ensures success in other subjects, as a
sound reading ability is the gateway to the acquisition and expansion of knowledge
in all the school subjects” (Grove & Hauptfleisch. 2002:1). An
inability to read will impact negatively on the ability to achieve in all other
school subjects, as well as on the ability to succeed in life beyond school.
This will have a strong influence on the child’s self-esteem and on his
perception of himself as a student which, in turn, will have an influence on
his subject choice as well as on his choice of career (Brown, 2002). Anderson,
Hiebert, Scott and Wilkinson (2005:1) describe reading as “a basic life
skill. It is a cornerstone for a child’s success in school and, indeed,
throughout life.” This sentiment is supported by Grove and

Hauptfleisch (2002:1) who state that “Reading to
learn is becoming more and more important in that it creates almost limitless
possibilities for achievement.”

Statement of the problem

Further to the above, during
the course of assessment and remedia1 work carried out by the researcher
amongst a group of student in college of education it became obvious that a
number of these students had below average reading ability at this school, at
some point during their Foundation Phase schooling, a number of students had
been referred to the school’s part-time educational psychologist for assessment
of reading problems. In most cases, although not all, this referral had taken
place during the students’ first year. Following assessment, the majority of
these students were referred fool reading remediation, which took the form of
one half-hour session per week, during school hours, with a remedial therapist.

Even allowing for developmental variations as
mentioned above, relative to their age and grade these students should have
been able to read at a specific level of mastery. All inability to read at this
level had grave implications for future academic success. The later shift to the
Intermediate Phase in year two, placed much greater demands on the students in
terms of reading ability as they broadened their focus from mainly reading,
writing and spelling to include specific subjects. Foundation Phase reading
skills became a critical factor to successful learning.

There existed among the
teachers at the Intermediate Phase a concern at what they perceived to be
generally poor reading ability amongst the Foundation Phase children at the
school.

Teachers at the college of
education were finding that a number of students coming were experiencing
difficulty reading, especially with regards reading comprehension. For a number
of these students, this was then manifesting as academic difficulties as they
were unable to fully understand the written content of their varied subject
material.

The concern resulted in meetings being called by the
lecturer and the relevant Heads of Department. Attending these meetings were,
amongst others, the teachers of year 1 – and 3 on grade level 1 to 7, as well
as the educational psychologist involved in work at the school.

During the course of these
meetings, decisions were made regarding what action should be taken at each
grade level, in terms of specific reading skills, in order to improve the
overall reading ability of the children.

Purpose of the study

·       
The aim of the study was three-fold, namely:

·       
To investigate the extent of the correlation, if
any, between the reading problem and among student in college of education
Ikere Ekiti.  

·       
To investigate the correlation, if any, between
3 aspects of reading (namely, speed, accuracy and comprehension) and the
academic performance of a specific group students in college of education.

Significant of
the Study

The study is justified by the increasing need to solve social problems

In our society and specifically the problem of poor reading habits
in college of education Ikere Ekiti, (2009), Education emphasizes functional
skills and desirable attitudes and actions for the purpose of producing an
effective citizenry.

In view of the prevailing undesirable
behaviours in youths, this study will expose the students to the harmful
effects of poor reading habits and the consequence on academic and thus serve
as a cautionary measure for students.

Through this study the students in college of education will be
able to address problem in poor reading at tertiary school level will know how
to practically use the content of grammar and skill in reading and writing
effectively.

The study will serve as an important reference to researchers who wish
to further study in this area.

Scope of
the Study

The study was limited to a
group of student school in Ekiti state, precisely, college of education Ikere
Ekiti. The group of student had the following in common

 Research Questions

Research hypotheses

Considering the general view
that reading is important and that reading is a prerequisite skill for
effective learning, and given the concerns expressed by the Grade 4 teachers,
it appeared that reading difficulties were likely to have an adverse effect on
academic performance.

Therefore, the hypotheses to be investigated were as
follows:

1. There is a significant correlation (p<O. 05)
between reading ability and among student in college of education.

2. There is a significant correlation (p<O.05)
between general reading ability and achievement in course

3. There is a significant correlation (p<O,OS)
between the three aspects of reading (namely, speed, accuracy and
comprehension), respectively, and academic performance.

CHAPTER TWO