Introduction
The World Read
Aloud Day (WRAD) is commemorated on first Wednesday in February of every
year. The 2025 edition of the global event took place on the 5th
February of the year. Like all other notable/global events, it is a special day
highlighting the importance of Reading
Aloud in Literacy development with focus on young learners and the need to
imbibe and practice it as well as incorporation into various academic
programmes especially the elementary education programme e.g. Read Aloud Lagos,
the initiative of Lagos State Government through the office of Education
Quality Assurance for children within primary school age bracket. In order
words, it is a global day dedicated to art of Reading and Storytelling so that
young learners can acquire proficiency in reading and comprehension as well as
writing overtime. The usual practice is engagement of children and students in
Reading Aloud of stories from books by teachers in schools and parents at home.
It can also take the form of reading competition with reward for good
performance in order to create love of reading in children.
National Library of Nigeria which has always played a
pivotal role in the promotion of reading culture and literacy development
commemorates the event every year and
other notable global events with various outreach activities throughout the
nation through its network of branches. The activities include reading/reading
competition, lectures/talk, radio talk show etc. The corporate headquarters was
not left out this year as selected staff members gathered to mark the occasion
with engagement in Reading Aloud of
stories from books, followed by discussions and comments. It was a highly interactive
and lively session.
Background: The global event was founded in 2010 by
LitWorld, a non profit organization working in the field of education and
literacy in particular in . It has as its mission straightening kids and communities through the power of stories.
The event celebrates the joy and power
of reading and sharing stories and
expanding the definition and scope of global literacy. It has evolved into
global movement.
The Importance of Reading
Aloud
Reading is a very important skill for education and
lifelong learning as it facilitates teaching and acquisition of knowledge. It helps in the mastery of various subjects
being taught and studied. As key component of education, people especially
children and youths require efficient and effective reading skill in order to
continue to grow in knowledge and become well positioned to play future
leadership role that will have positive impact on sustainable National
Development.
The foregoing underscores the essence of Reading Aloud campaign aimed to foster
dexterity in reading with its inherent benefit of literacy, enlightenment,
creativity and critical thinking. According
to United States Education
Department, the most important activity for building skills and background
required for eventual success is Reading Aloud to children. Reading aloud
is powerful because it serves so many instructional purposes i.e. it motivates,
encourages, excites and develops comprehension in children. This is premised on
the conviction that children perform better when they are led in the act of
reading by an instructor or expert who guides them with emphasis pronunciation, variation in pitch, tone, pace, eye contact, pauses, questions and comments to produce fluent and
enjoyable delivery.
Besides, studies have shown that reading has profound
effect on language acquisition and writing skill as it improves language
competence by creating impact on learner’s vocabulary, grammar, spelling and
fluency leading to improvement in speaking and writing ability.
Significance of Reading Aloud
- ·
Stimulation
of interest of school children in reading, storytelling and writing.
- ·
Ensures
competency and fluency in reading of books written in both foreign and
indigenous languages.
- · Enhances
comprehension skill by being able to listen attentively, decode messages with
understanding leading to retention and recollection.
- · Enhances
communication orally and writing because of improvement in language skills such
as vocabulary, comprehension and writing for individuals of all ages.
- · Encourages
critical thinking and analytical mind as it promote not only reading skills but
also an enjoyable and interactive activity.
- · Inculcation
of reading skill in children to pave way for lifelong learning.
- · Promotes
global literacy as a foundational human right
- · Strengthens
children and communities through the power of storytelling. Stories foster
shared identity through which community can identify common traditions and
values that bind them together, creating a sense of belonging. Sharing stories about
the past can help communities to preserve their cultural heritage for future
generations.
Application In Nigeria
Context
Nigeria is a multi-ethnic nation with over two hundred and
fifty languages. English language remains the official language while three
major languages have been designated National languages i.e. Yoruba, Igbo and
Hausa. It is mandatory for students to take at least one of the languages in
secondary schools. The education policy in this regard is for a Nigerian child
to acquire proficiency in English language and enhanced literacy in Mother
tongue or in a Nigeria language. In a related development, the Federal
Government has mandated use of mother tongue as a medium of communication at
elementary education level. This is in line with the global agenda of promotion
of multilingualism in education to ensure global mutual peace and
understanding, a pointer to the fact that Nigeria indigenous languages are as
important as English language and need to be taught properly.
Furthermore, It has
been observed that time allotted to teaching of language subjects in Nigerian
schools especially secondary schools is inadequate. This does not allow for
intensive teaching of reading and writing which are taught as integral part of
language subject. Infact many students fail language subjects because of poor
skill in writing.
Foundation stage: Pre -
Primary and Primary Education.
The National policy on Education (2002) recognizes the Pre-primary Education as the beginning
of literacy education in Nigeria. It is a preparatory stage for primary
education and serves as the beginning of lifelong learning.
The Primary
Education stage is the beginning of formal education in Nigeria. Though elementary,
the National Policy on Education (NPE, 2002) recognizes it as very important
because success and failure of the whole national education programme depends
on it. This stage prepares pupils for secondary and tertiary education. These two
stages of education deserve utmost attention. A solid literacy and numeracy
foundation is required in line with the adage“Catch them Young”. Language subjects and literature should be
properly taught with great emphasis on Reading Aloud strategy in order to
ingrain the passion of reading and writing in children. Teaching of reading and
writing will therefore be intensive. The
following points will suffice for these stages of education:
- · Reading
and writing should be properly taught with great motivation and adequate time
allotted. e.g. two hours every day of the week.
- · The
Reading Aloud methodology should be adopted whereby instructor reads and
children reads after him and thereafter the children read in turn individually
while the teacher monitors and corrects them.
- · Acquisition
of suitable children books in both English and indigenous languages for reading
and explanation of the moral lessons and themes including annotation of words
and phrases for discussion and clarification in class.
- · Supplementing
reading with edifying stories.
- · Recommended
books must be easy to read and understand preferably books with illustration,
pictures and diagrams.
- · Dictation
of simple words to enable them master correct spelling of words.
- · Testing
comprehension skills of pupils with questions and asking them to summarize the
main points of the passage orally and in writing.
- · Employment
of other media to impart knowledge of reading such as text-to-speech software,
book on cassette, video tape and projectors.
- · The
use of digitally based software that can baseline pupils according to their
reading ability with suggestions of books that can match their reading interests.
- · Teaching
pupils how to check meanings and usage of words in the dictionary especially
Oxford dictionary.
- · Rewarding good performance in reading to
stimulate interest in reading and writing.
- · Testing
pupils writing skills with short composition on various topics such as my
school, my teacher to improve their writing skills.
- · Aside
story books, books that reflect Nigeria indigenous background, ethnic
diversity, religion, core moral and cultural values should be recommended.
Junior and Senior Secondary
School Levels
These two levels of education with expanded curriculum have
many subjects excluding reading and writing which are taught as part of English
language, a core subject, major Nigeria languages and literature. However, more
time should be allocated for teaching of language subjects with greater
emphasis on reading and writing as well as literature in both English and
indigenous languages. At the senior secondary level, students have freedom of
choice of subjects to take. While most of the arts students may take
literature, Science and commercial students may do away and limit their reading
to their choice subjects. Science and commercial students should be encouraged
to take Literature to further deepen their comprehension skill. For these two
levels education, note the following points:
- · Intensive
teaching of English Language and indigenous language with great emphasis of
reading, writing and grammar.
- · Intensive
teaching of literature including poetry with knowledge of literary appreciation
for proper understanding of literary works. This session should be lively and
interactive.
- · Orientation
on the use of library materials such as Dictionary and encyclopedia (both
general and subject).
- · The
library should have audio-visual section or reading laboratory for practical’s
cum instructional learning in reading and writing.
- · Teaching
of oral language for correct pronunciation or phonemic awareness.
- · Participation
in reading and quiz completion with prizes and gifts to further stimulate
interest in reading.
- · Complementing
teaching with the use of audio-visuals such as projectors, audio CD etc.
Further Suggestions
- · Allotment
of more time to the teaching of language subjects and literature with great emphasis on reading
and writing.
- · Conduct
of extra classes and special sessions
for reading and writing
- · Virtual
engagement of students by teachers using online platform and electronic media.
- · Engagement
of children in Reading Aloud by book
clubs, libraries and parents at home.
- · Reading
Aloud can still be stimulated at the local, state and national levels with
reading and essay competitions, with prices and award of scholarship for good
performance.
- · Ensuring
adequate manpower to teach language subject especially language and Literature.
- · Publishing
of more children’s story books
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NIGERIA
This paper will not be complete without placing on record
the efforts of the National Library of Nigeria in the promotion of reading
culture through its nationwide annual readership promotion campaign. An
important feature of the programme is exposure of students to reading
competition, using Reading Aloud
technique at the end of which best performing schools and the rest are rewarded
with prizes ranging from desktop computers, tablets to books and bookshelves.
This programme has also been extended to hospitals, correctional centres and
motor parks. At the hospitals, expectant and nursing mothers are sensitized on
the importance of reading to the children in the womb(Foetus) and at delivery
in order to increase the babies’ intelligence which will equally foster passion
for reading as observed by a psychologist. Also literacy centres are being
established in hard-to-reach rural communities to foster literacy in Mother
Language.
Conclusion
The essence of commemoration of any global event is to
draw the attention of all countries in the global village to the importance of
the subject matter and thus chart a way forward for sustainable national
development. It is not just for mere celebration but also adoption and
incorporation into academic programmes especially at the elementary and
secondary levels of education towards attainment of academic excellence. Lagos
State is setting the pace in Nigeria by incorporating the Reading Aloud concept
into the primary school education programme. Therefore all other states and
Federal Government schools should also key into it. I have observed that the
commemoration of the World Read Aloud in Nigeria has remained a low-key affair whereas
it ought to be a high profile celebration. Schools, libraries, book clubs,
government and non governmental organizations ought to mark it in grand
style.
B.A.
SALAWU
Director (VLSD)
National
Library of Nigeria