Reading and comprehension problems at Ndewura Jakpa Senior High Technical School_a case study

Abstract

This work looks at some of the problems associated with reading and comprehension among students in Ndewura Jakpa Senior High Technical School. It is basically a qualitative study of reading comprehension difficulties among students at Ndewura Jakpa Senior High Technical School. It will also suggest ways of enhancing students‟ abilities in comprehension. The purpose of the study is to investigate causes of students‟ poor performance in reading and comprehension, its effects on their academic performance and how to address the situation. The sample size used is forty-five (45) made up of forty (40) students and five (5) teachers in the English department. Findings from the study revealed that the cause of students poor performance in reading and comprehension results from text difficulty coupled with low word power of students, ineffective teaching approaches, lazy attitude of teachers, foreign text background, failure to see how a material is organized, negative attitude of students, limited text scope and poor reading and comprehension techniques. It was also found that poor reading comprehension skills affect student‟s performance, not in only English but in other subject areas. It also affects student‟s abilities in effective communication and even in essay writing. The study has recommended the following strategies that can be used to enhance students‟ performance in reading and comprehension: using culturally friendly text for reading, understanding the structure of the text, using appropriate methodologies to teaching, constant practice of comprehension, equipping students with essential skills needed for comprehension, having prediction activities before reading, understanding word relations and giving enough time to reading and comprehension practice regardless of pressure exerted by examination.