ABSTRACT Reading is one of the essential skills for a human's social life and economic development. Previous studies have revealed that some students in higher learning institutions rarely read beyond their lecture notes. They rely heavily on detailed PowerPoint slides that are likely to appear on tests or study guides available just a few days before examinations. This study investigated the motives for undergraduate students in Tanzania to read beyond their lecture notes, providing recommendations to promote a reading culture among students in higher learning institutions in a context where many students are averse to such a tradition. Forty-two participants from three higher learning institutions in Tanzania participated in the study: 36 students in focused group discussions and six others in in-depth interviews. The data subjected to inductive thematic analysis revealed factors that motivated the students’ reading culture, include the desire to attain competencies in the subject areas, pursuing personal goals, zeal for excellence and attaining self-confidence. Other motivations to reading beyond notes included fear of failing in the examinations, availability of resources and the instructors’ guidelines. Both internal and external factors accounted for the reading motivation. The study provides practical and policy recommendations to promote reading culture among students in higher learning institutions.
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