Reading Habits of Secondary School Teachers: A Study of Selected Secondary Schools in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area
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Access to information is crucial to individual advancement as well as corporate educational
development. Information is indispensable, and, according to Yusuf (2007), bridges the gap between
knowledge and ignorance. One of the major avenues for acquiring information is reading. Reading is the
foundation upon which other academic skills are built. It offers a productive approach to improving
vocabulary, word power, and language skills. Tella and Akande (2007) assert that the ability to read is at
the heart of self-education and lifelong learning and that it is an art capable of transforming life and
society. Yani (2003) posits that reading habits of Nigerians are a matter of concern in our educational and
national development, stating further that in a developing country like Nigeria, the concept of reading
habits should not be relegated to the background. Nweke (1990) states that it has a real role to play in
development of the individual. Sangaeo (1999) observes that a reading habit must be promoted from an
early age. This view is supported by Yusuf (2007), who says that that children imbibe good character
during their formative years. The most important factor in student learning in schools is the quality of
teaching. Teachers are the chief drivers of the education engine. They design the curriculum and the
behavioral goals that are its products (Olajide, 2008). Since education involves interaction between
learners, learning materials, and teachers, teachers must be avid readers themselves in order to ignite a
lifelong reading habit in their students. Students should be motivated to read and know how to use
reading materials to improve themselves and their social environment. Trelease (2006) observes that
teachers are seldom seen reading. A good teacher must have a broad information base and should not
depend on their lesson notes, which cannot contain all the information on a given topic. Teachers should
provide reading lists to accompany what is done in class and give assignments that will prompt students
to research in the school or public library.
Keywords
Z665 Library Science. Information Science, Z719 Libraries (General)