Reading Habits Of Children In Private And Public Schools: A Comparative Study Of The Prince Of Peace Academy, Madina And The Estate Junior Secondary school

Abstract

This study examined the reading habits of children in private and public schools. The study centred on two categories of schools - the Prince of Pea~e Academy, Madina for private schools and the Madina Estate JSS for public schools. The sample consisted of 50 pupils from each school. The questionnaire method was used to carry out the research. Questionnaires were administered to 100 pupils from the two schools. The findings of the study revealed that the respondents from Prince of Peace Academy had parents with good educational background with a good percentage of them having libraries at home. Interestingly, the Madina Estate JSS did not have a library. This is a great disincentive to the pupils and the teachers. This situation greatly accounts for why pupils in public schools do not perform well in both spoken and written English. Teachers in the school also need a school library to update their knowledge. The study recommends among others, that every school, be it public or private should have a well-equipped library to promote effective teaching and learning and sustain the reading habits of children. The Ghana Education Service should issue a directive to the effect that every first and second school should have a library period on its time table during which the children will be compelled to go to the library books distributed for them to read.