IMPROVING ENGLISH READING HABITS/SKILLS OF PRIMARY SIX PUPILS: A CASE STUDY OF ST. PAUL‟S R/C PRIMARY „B‟ SCHOOL

ABSTRACT 

This study investigates the poor reading skills among pupils of St. Paul‟s R/C Primary School „B‟. The purpose of the study is to find out the causes of poor reading skills, the effects of poor reading skills on the pupils and the strategies that can be adopted to improve upon them. This was done through data collection tools interview, observation and questionnaire. The sample size used was thirty-eight (38) class six pupils and six (6) teachers of St. Paul‟s R/C Primary School. The study confirmed that students of the school had difficulty in reading and that it had dire consequences on the pupils‟ academic performance, communication skills and their competence level in reading. It was discovered that this causes were as a result of inappropriate teaching methodologies, inadequate time allocated to reading and inadequate use of TLMs on the part of the teachers while the causes ascribed to the pupils were inadequate reading after school, pupils‟ perception of reading, inadequate library visitation and the types of books they read.  The study therefore proposed that increasing the time allocation on the timetable, usage of modern strategies like the Syllabic and Phonics methods in teaching reading among others. Pupils should also be encouraged to read after school and make good use of the library. They should also change their perception of reading. The study has contributed to the existing literature on improving reading skills.