SOCIO-COGNITIVE STUDY OF READING COMPETENCE AMONG SELECTED JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ANKPA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

The declining reading competence among junior secondary school students in Nigeria has become a major concern for educators, policymakers, and parents. Many students exhibit poor reading fluency, comprehension difficulties, and an inability to engage with texts critically. The study aimed to investigate the reading problems of students in both private and public Junior Secondary Schools in Ankpa L.G.A of Kogi State. The research adopted survey research design and quantitative method of data analysis. The sample size for the study is 300. Data were collected via questionnaire and was coded using SPSS. The research is underpinned by Socio-cognitive and Socio-linquistic theoretical framework. Findings from the study showed that difficulty in understanding words is highly perceived to constitute a major reading problem faced by Junior Secondary Schools Students in Ankpa L.G.A, Kogi State. The research concluded that the factors which affect reading comprehension among Junior Secondary School Students in Ankpa L.G.A of Kogi State are lack of vocabulary knowledge, lack of conducive social environment and cultural environment. The research recommended that the students reading habit should be encouraged by providing them with age appropriate reading material, and there should be separate periods for the teaching of reading on the timetable