Evaluation of English Language Textbooks Used in the Junior Secondary Schools in Nigeria: A Case Study of Lagos State Schools

Abstract

This study sought to establish the readability, comprehensibility, availability and the level of integration of English language and Literature in English in the English language textbooks in use in Lagos State junior secondary schools. Three hundred students and 60 teachers were selected from 20 schools in Lagos State. The stratified random sampling technique was used to ensure a representative sample of all the sub-sets. The instruments for data collection were cloze tests, questionnaires, observation schedule, interview questions, three English texts used at JSS level and Flesch reading ease formular.
The chi square statistical tool, mean, media, mode and simple percentage were used to analyze the data collected in order to answer the five research questions and test the two hypotheses posited for the study. The findings show that:
• The English language textbooks in use in the junior secondary schools in Lagos State are difficult for the intended readers.
• There is imbalance in the integration of English language and Literature in English in the textbooks, among others.
Based on the findings, some recommendations were made on how to improve the situation.

Keywords: Readability; Comprehensibility; Integration.

International Journal of Educational Research Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 167-171