Reading Habits of Undergraduates and their Academic Performances: Issues and Perspectives

Abstract

Reading is an indispensable tool of learning. Every course of study is accomplished partly through reading. Lecturers in the University usually have high expectations of a students‟ ability to cope with the demands of reading. However, reading as a practice and an art has tended to diminish. The general expectations of these students‟ reading ability have not been met. Students have a key role to play for them to succeed academically. Required information, skill and more information can be acquired through reading. This study examined the reading habits of undergraduates and their academic performance. A total number of two hundred (200) undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and Anambra State University were randomly selected from four faculties as research subjects. The subjects were exposed to a reading test, while some students were interviewed so as to elicit useful information on their reading habits and how it affects their performance. Result revealed poor reading habit and negative attitude towards reading which resulted in their abysmal performance as evident in the reading test conducted. This study shows also that many students read only to pass their examination and not for pleasure and acquiring knowledge. This was arrived at through reading test, structured interview and questionnaire administered to the selected undergraduate students. Issues and perspectives towards the pedagogy of reading and how students can defeat this apathy and improve their reading skills and efficiency is the crux of this study. Based on the findings, few recommendations for improved reading among our undergraduates were made.