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Nurturing a Reading Culture in Ugandian Homes

The Uwezo 2010 Assessment Learning Report revealed low reading proficiency especially among pupils in government-aided rural schools. It was observed that children are not acquiring the basic competencies expected at different stages of primary school. It is interesting that Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has emphatically questioned the validity of the study’s findings.

The board maintains that what were considered standard level tests are in fact above what is normally expected. The examinations board also insists that the sampling units used (households) do not represent the known characteristics of classes.

But Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Francis Lubanga ignored the politics surrounding the report and commended Uwezo for doing the study. The writing is clearly on the wall for all to see. We have seen the gobbled gook that university students write in their essays. The grammar in letters and emails from offices manned by university graduates is often disturbing. Rather than explore the merits (or lack thereof) in the response from UNEB, I will consider ways of intervening to overcome the trials and tribulations of many of our unlettered pupils.

Low standards

It seems the admission requirements of our secondary schools, polytechnics and universities have dropped considerably over the years. This situation breeds complacency among young who would otherwise work harder at improving their language proficiency. It seems anyone able to write some partially intelligible stuff into an application form and pay fees can get an admission. Can there be some language proficiency requirements for admission into secondary school and university in addition to the principal subject grades? A Test of English as a Foreign Language accompanies all US university applications from non-native English speakers. Those who’ve sat the test know that they ask for more than primary two-type comprehension.

The Wall Street Journal recently published findings of a report by Scholastic Publishers highlighting a particular challenge in getting boys to read. But I think the challenge in this country is across the board. The study found that if parents read more, so will their children. Almost half of the fathers surveyed read books less than one day a week. It was suggested that if fathers read more, then their sons would.

1987 film The Princess Bride is a very vivid reminder of the way fathers (or even grannies) can have completely devoted listeners when they read stories to their sons. We often let those hours when children are confined in bed (but not asleep) or as they wait in a queue at the dentist’s go to waste. The children are unable to realise that every little counts for improving vocabulary and knowledge.

The journey through traffic jam from school would otherwise not be filled by fruitless ranting from the radio jockey.

Electronics control

Parents and teachers are aware that as children grow older and learn to use computers and mobile phones, they spend less time reading. I have also previously attributed the low-level of English proficiency of university students to a belief that there is ready-made knowledge and understanding on the internet for students to take and paste into their assignments. Students no longer have the urge to read or write anything of value for themselves from hard copy. With the advent of fast search facilities, they can look for what they want online and need not know anything for themselves. One commentator has observed that the secret to raising boys [and girls] who read, is pretty simple — keep electronic media, especially video games and recreational internet, under control and fill the shelves with good books from eminent writers..

Good books

My father has often recalled interesting dialogues in William Shakespeare’s plays at dinner table conversations on politics, money or work. The genius of Shakespeare was displayed in the powerful delineation of character, and the dramatic evolution of human passions. His portraits seem so real—living and breathing before us. The literary works of such outstanding men and women make very good company during leisure hours. By elevating the thoughts and aspirations, they act as preservatives against the confusion ill-formed opinions from low associations may sow in the mind.

It is unnecessary to speak of the enormous moral influence which books have exercised upon the general civilisation of mankind, from the Bible downward. They contain the treasured knowledge of the human race. However, it is not how much one reads that matters most, but the benefit derived from the thoughts that develop our own thoughts and strengthen our own minds.

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