The environment and reading habits in Nigeria: A case study of Calabar Municipality

Abstract

This study was conducted in Calabar Municipality, to determine why reading habit is low and unsustainable in Nigeria. Survey research design was use d in this study whose population consisted of adult and children of secondary school age in selected public secondary schools within Calabar Municipality. Questionnaire and interview were the instruments used for data collection. Accidental sampling and simple rand om sampling techniques were employed in this study. The sample comprised 250 students and 410 adults. This put the sample size at 610 respondents. The data generated from the instruments were analysed using descriptive statistics, (simple percentage %). The study found that, t he home environment is not ideal for the development of positive reading habit, a school environment with negative characteristics towards the development of reading habits and 50.5% of adult do not read at all. This is in addition to the 8% who cannot read. This implied that 58% of adults do not read for personal development. There are those who work all day, (34.1%), from morning till night, day in day out, so had no time for recreation. There are also those, in the course of struggl ing to put food on the table for the family (27.3%), could not justify why they should resort to reading at this age. It was recommended that the culture of diversion of public funds and the provision of sub standard materials, equipments and services in p ublic places should be discouraged. With the right attitudes, good leadership and a strong and viable economy, the home environment and the schools system will respond positively and reveal the desired environment for reading habit to thrive.

Key Words: Environment, Reading, Habit, Nigeria, Municipality, Calabar