An Evaluation of Primary One Pupils' Performance in Basic Reading Skills in Government Schools in Jos Metropolis, Plateau State

Abstract

Strong reading skills are one of the most important educational outcomes that predict future success. Many different skills must work together when reading a text, including oral language, print awareness, phonemic awareness, reading fluency, and comprehension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reading skills of pupils in government schools in Jos Metropolis. In a descriptive study, 185 primary one pupils completed an individually administered reading assessment in each reading skill. The results showed that pupils were proficient in oral language and aspects of print awareness. However, performance in phonemic awareness, reading fluency, and listening comprehension was very low. Knowledge of the reading skills that pupils have mastered is important so that teachers in early childhood classrooms can target instruction for those particular skills that are still weak. This study shows that additional instruction is needed in phonemic awareness, reading fluency and listening comprehension.

Keywords: Evaluation, Primary One Pupils, Academic Performance, and Basic Reading Skills