Abstract

Reading is one of the most important sources of learning and acquisition of information. Reading, exposes one to new words, ideas, expressions and their various uses. Good reading enhances power of expression as it exposes one to a variety of styles employed by writers in their writings. Indeed, most people achieve language competence from good and effective reading. Reading inability deters a learner from achieving his learning objectives. This paper critically investigates the factors that affect reading competence in junior secondary school students in Afikpo urban of Ebonyi state. The investigation covers some aspects of reading. The main focus of the investigation is to find out the extent to which the junior secondary school students read, how the availability of reading materials or otherwise affect their reading ability and what they are interested in reading, having in mind that one of the objectives of the use of English is to equip the students with effective reading skills. Therefore, the investigation looked at the definition of reading by some renowned authorities, types of reading and how reading competence can be developed. In order to find out the nature of reading problems existent among junior secondary school students, efforts of teachers and parents in helping the students achieve reading competence, questionnaires were administered to four different junior secondary school in Afikpo urban for appropriate responses, using the terminal class, JSS III. The data were collected and analyzed, using simple percentage. Based on the results derived from the data, appropriate recommendations were made.

Keywords: Reading, reading materials, competence, investigation, information

How to cite

L.O. Nwokeneme (2026). Investigating the Reading Competence in English Among Junior Secondary School Students in Afikpo Urban of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.. NATELCEP Journal of Languages and Communication Studies (NJLCS), 19(1). https://www.natelcep.org/journal/articles/6aa86a2b827155af40682d70