Enhancing learners’ reading comprehension skills through access to school reading materials in a selected secondary school in Kayunga District

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of access to school reading materials on enhancing learners‟ reading comprehension skills in a selected secondary school in Kayunga district. The research investigated the types of reading materials available, learners‟ access to these materials, and the relationship between access to these materials and learners‟ reading comprehension skills. The study sought to establish how learners‟ reading comprehension skills could be enhanced through access to school reading materials in a selected secondary school in Kayunga district. The study adopted a qualitative research approach to gain a rich understanding of how school reading materials can enhance learners‟ reading comprehension skills. A case study design was employed to enable an in-depth understanding of school reading materials and reading comprehension skills. Focus group discussions and in depth interviews were utilized to gather insights from learners and educators, shedding light on their experiences, perceptions and challenges related to accessing and utilizing school reading materials for reading comprehension skills. A document analysis guide provided an additional data source ,offering a comprehensive perspective on learners‟ reading comprehension skills, and enabling identification of patterns and themes that illuminated the ways in which school reading materials can be optimized to support reading comprehension skills. The study found out that learners have access to school reading materials and school reading materials contribute positively to learners‟ enhancement of reading comprehension skills, however, despite having the materials, learners only maximize comprehension skills gains when teachers provide consistent support and guidance. It is therefore recommended that teachers offer maximum instructional support to fully leverage the materials for enhanced comprehension skills.