An Investigation of the Minimum threshold Level towards the end of the first cycle: reading Skills in Focus
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Date
2000-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The principal objective of the study was to investigate the reading achievement of the first
cycle students and then compare this with the achievement level expected of them. As a
corollary to this, the investigation sought to discover whether the reading objectives of the
first cycle are met or not.
To this end, an achievement test and two sets of questionnaires were employed to collect
the data. To prepare the test, the profile for the first cycle was closely analyzed. The
textbooks for grade one, two, three and four were surveyed. Based on the objectives of
the syllabi and the proportional representation of the sub-skills in the textbooks, a table of
specifications was prepared. A test comprising literal comprehension, vocabulary in
context, word recognition (identification), information transfer, comprehension-at-word
level, comprehension-at-sentence level, reordering jumbled sentences and reading for the
main ideas was developed as this would most likely gauge students' expected performance
at the level. This test was administered to 180 randomly selected students from six
schools: three from Government and three from Public Schools.
The test was piloted on 40 students and then was administered to the 180 sample
students. The result of the test indicated that from the total of 180 sample students 94
students or 52% scored below the overall average of the test (54%).
A close examination of student's performance further revealed that students performed
better in comprehension-at-word level, information transfer and reordering jumbled
sentences tests. They performed adequately in literal comprehension test. The students
performed below average in comprehension at sentence level, in Reading-for-the main
idea and word identification tests.
The results of teachers' questionnaire also corroborate the test results. The response of
teachers' questionnaire indicated that students' reading performance was below standard.
Further analysis of the questionnaire revealed that there were some problems which
account for such poor performance.
On the basis of the results, some recommendations were forwarded. These
recommendations call for some remedial activities on the part of the teachers, supply of
reading materials on the part of the parents and school administrators, syllabus and other
minor policy adjustments on the part of the bodies concerned and improving reading
practice on the part of the students.
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Keywords
reading Skills