Reading competency and academic performance of students

Abstract

This research study was done to examine the reading competency and academic performance of 185 first year college students of ISU, San Mariano Campus for SY 2020 – 2021. It also attempted to investigate the relationship that exists between reading competency and the academic achievement of the respondents; and to develop an intervention program. Descriptive statistics was used to establish their reading competency level and in analyzing the association that exists between their reading competency and academic achievement, chi – square test for independent, t – test and one way analysis of variance were utilized. About the conclusions of this investigation, only a few numbers of the respondents earned a satisfactory academic achievement. Most of the respondents reading competency level was classed as developing. There was no significant difference between the reading competence of the respondents when categorized according to course and sex. The BSIT respondents had a considerably lower general Weighted Average (GWA) as compared to the BSED, BAT, and BSHM respondents and there was no significant difference between the grades of the male and the male respondents. The respondents with competent level of reading competency earned a considerably higher GWA than the respondents with beginning, developing and approaching proficiency levels. It is proposed that considerable mentorship on reading comprehension must be practiced by English faculty members. In addition, a monthly activity like reading and comprehension competition must be introduced in the campus to increase the reading skill of the respondents and the campus library should serve as an ideal setting where students can do volunteer reading activity.