Teacher preparation program and acquisition of contemporary skills of teaching reading in primary schools: Issues and prospects

Abstract

The role of the teacher is to be responsive to the vast and varied needs of each child, and to promote an educational climate that facilitates motivation and the desire to read. Many children leave primary school without acquiring the skills of reading. In fact, many teachers in primary schools in Nigeria lack the awareness of the importance of reading in the development of the individual and its importance as a tool of emancipation. This paper  therefore examines teachers' understanding and interpretation of their reading instruction to highlight the effective skills of teaching reading in primary schools. It discusses the contemporary skills of teaching reading and preparation for all teachers. Among the recommendations made was the need to equip the teachers with adequate knowledge, skills and strategies for effective reading instruction that can make a difference in the lives of children through teacher preparation programmes.