ABAKALIKI – The Ebonyi State Government has urged parents to inculcate good reading habit in their children to enable them to excel in their academics.
The state Commissioner for Education, Mr Ndubuisi Chibueze-Agbo, made the call in Abakaliki on Monday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Chibueze-Agbo said the inculcation of reading habit in children would enhance their academic performance and eliminate examination malpractice in schools.
According to him, the provision of mini-libraries in homes will equip the children with conducive reading environment.
The commissioner decried the attitude of parents who preferred investing in home movies for their children instead of buying good educational materials.
According to him, building home libraries is one of the veritable means by which parents can encourage their children to be versatile readers.
He said that constant reading of good materials would help an individual to develop his creative mind as well as the develop power of imagination.
“Reading helps to develop your creative imagination as well as power of thought.
“It makes you to discover who you are and your mission and purpose in life.
“Above all, readers are rulers because they know what others don’t know.
“It is through reading of good materials that you attain self-discovery, mental emancipation as well as rule your environment.
“When you read, you discover, when you discover, you become a better person and when you become a better person, you become a leader.’’
He attributed under performance of students in external examinations such as the SSCE, NECO and the UTME, to poor reading habits.
The commissioner noted that said that governments at all levels had given a boost to production and distribution of good educational materials but expressed regret that parents were not accessing their benefits maximally.
He said that the state government had done a lot to reposition the education sector and appealed to parents and guardians to complement its efforts.
“Government has done so much to reposition the sector through the provision of qualified personnel, building of more infrastructure in schools and training and re-training of staff.
“We appeal to parents and guardians to complement government’s efforts in building a virile academic environment for our children,’’ he said. (NAN)