Researchers and other relevant stakeholders in the academic palace have suggested solutions to the declining reading culture among early grade in Nigeria.
The stakeholders had regretted the increasing negative impact of poor reading culture and the attendant academic performance of the children, while seeking urgent attention of concern authorities for holistic change.
The rise by the stakeholders to combat the impediment to early grade reading was coming at a time the National Education Research and Development Council (NERDC), moved full implementation of National Reading Framework at the basic level in the country.
The educationists spoke at the opening of 4th National Conference on Children’s Books and The Teaching of Early Grade Reading in Nigeria. It was organized by Nigeria Centre for Reading, Research and Development, (NCRRD), Bayero University, Kano.
Keynote Speaker, Professor Graceful Ofodu, of the Department of Arts and Language Education, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, who identified poor learning of reading process as major impediment in the four wall of the classroom insisted early literacy most go beyond classroom.
Professor Ofodu explained that for children to overcome the declining reading culture, parents must master early reading of their child from home, a logical technique to simplify teachers’ efforts. The University don equally called for capacity building for teachers to keep them abreast of reading process.
The lead presenter and Vice Chancellor, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Professor Abdullahi Ibrahim, canvassed educational reforms and inculcation of digitalize learning system to check deficit in early grade reading in the country.
The VC had challenged what he described as ‘one side fit all’ educational curriculum system in Nigeria, instead of what he (VC) called individual learning methodology. Professor Ibrahim believed that concerned authorities must begin to initiate the process of blending digitalize learning system with the traditional reading method to restore the lost glory.
Earlier, the Director, NCRRD, Professor Talatu Garba, explained that the focus of the 4th conference with the theme, “Innovative Methodologies for Research and the Teaching of Early Grade Reading in Nigeria”, was conceived to proffer solutions to the declining reading culture especially at the early childhood.
He added that the conference will also dissect methods to blend traditional reading culture and the electric system which is fact attracting children attention.
“Reading is a two-way thing. Initially, our perspective to reading is, reading books or scriptures but with the advent of phones and data, the need to adopt other reading methodologies becomes imperative essentially to rescue the children from the declining culture of reading in our schools.
“The trend nowadays is reading electronically which research has shown its deficit in terms of ability to comprehend unlike reading through the books which enables high sense of focus and understanding. Yet, we must not lose the merit of electronic reading system which is the trend. Now, this conference is looking into process of synchronizing both methods for positive results.
“Besides, the centre in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, is focusing on supporting teachers to revive the reading culture through training on early grade teaching process, in line with the curriculum. We are also building teachers capacity on ICT to be able to transfer knowledge to the children”, Professor Garba noted.
Chief host and Vice Chancellor, Bayero University Kano, Professor Abbas Adamu Sagir, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, Professor Mahmud Sani, pledged the institution’s commitment to sustain support to the centre in its quest to promote reading culture.
