Reading comprehension difficulties among students of Kpando Senior High School

Abstract

This research is a qualitative study on reading difficulties among Senior High School students. The study sought to identify the causes of these difficulties, the effects on the students, and ways language teachers can help learners to overcome these challenges. The study used sixty-seven students and five teachers as respondents. Interview and observation were used to collect data for the study. From the study, it was revealed that poor reading speed which is caused by the difficulty level of the texts, Negative attitude of language teachers, ineffective teaching approaches, are some of the major causes of reading difficulties among Senior High School students. Some of the effects of reading comprehension difficulties on the academic performance of the students include: Failure in West African Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations, inability to communicate effectively, fear of reading subjects. Some strategies suggested to enhance students’ abilities in reading and comprehension include: Equipping students with reading and comprehension skills, using modern approaches to teach reading and comprehension, using texts from the learners’ environment. The findings of this research will help shape the comprehension skills of the leaners as well as direct teachers on the various techniques to employ in teaching reading comprehension.