Reading Literacy Among Students Essay

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH

Malaysia is committed to develop an educational system for all students where equity and excellence is the ultimate goal of the process (Noriah, Rosadah, & Rahayah, 2009). Based on this ultimate goal of our nation, we are facing with a big obstacle on how to ensure that our young generation, especially the primary schools’ students are coherent to this mission. Without even realizing, our students nowadays are having low-level of reading literacy which is concluded by International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), 2001 as cited from Geske and Ozola, 2008.

Reading is an art of interpreting printed and written words, the effective process of conscious learning that influences the extent and accuracy of information, attitudes, morals, beliefs, judgment and action of readers stated by Devarajan and Gray (1989) in Panigrahi and Panda, 1996. Based on this quotation, reading is the most effective way to gain knowledge and to learn basic etiquette such as attitudes, morals and manners. Yet, the society still takes this skill for granted and it is

First, this research benefits students as the students can identify their reading ability and aware of the importance of having high-literacy in reading. They also can improve their reading by manipulating the factors that affecting one’s reading ability. Second, the teachers also can identify the reasons of the existence of variety reading ability. They also can improve their teaching strategies in class in order to fill in the loopholes that cause low-level in reading ability. Third, the research also important to help the Ministry of Education to be aware with the reading ability among primary schools and using the findings to plan appropriate module in order to enhance reading ability among primary school