READING CULTURE: WE WERE DOING BETTER IN THE 90s…

Teachers are beginning to express their deep concern on the dwindling nature of reading culture amongst students. It is no news that the students of our contemporary times are widely distracted by lots of things in the present-day society. 

Reading culture, which is the key factor for an effective learning process is at the verge of being totally lost. Speaking on this sad development, Mrs. Ngozi, a one-time English Language and Literature teacher opined that the situation has affected the quality of graduates in Nigeria today.

“The reading culture, generally, is dwindling and somehow it has affected the quality of students who graduate now; that is one thing I have noticed. Students are no longer keen to read.” She said, noting that there are still some quality students.  “We still have some quality students I must say, but they don't put in as much as they are supposed to. There are a lot of distractions here and there and that is one of the things affecting them.” She told Crystal News.

Looking back to the early years when she started off as a teacher she noted that students then were more serious. “I think earlier on, we were doing better in the 90s. I see some of those students and I feel happy. I am not saying that these ones are not doing well, but then, probably because the distraction was not that much then; our students then were more serious. Now we have face book, twitter and others which is a huge distraction for today's students.” 

Speaking to our correspondent shortly after the 2015 graduation and prize giving day of Government Senior Secondary School Kubwa, she advised students not to depend only on what they are taught in the classroom. 

“It is not what is taught in the class room that would give you the credit you want in English language, you get more from reading wide and listening to good speakers. The teachers, they teach but you learn more from reading good books and magazines and listening to good speakers.”

Mrs. Ngozi, who is now actively involved with teachers' welfare coordination still with the government schools revealed that the welfare department is geared towards caring for teachers: trying to support one another in good or in bad times. “The welfare is an umbrella that covers both teaching staff and non-teaching staff.” She said.