(556)TEACHERS AND LIBRARIES AS TOOLS IN EMPOWERING LITERACY FROM CHILDHOOD: A SURVEY OF ROLES OF TEACHERS AND LIBRARIES IN SELECTED HIGHER INSTITUTION’S STAFF SCHOOLS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

摘要

There is an advocacy move for promoting literacy from childhood. Libraries in schools under theumbrella of National Library of Nigeria had began its 2010 literacy empowerment campaign, as meansof promoting literacy through reading culture for national development in developing countries whichare prone to low literacy level in which Nigeria is not excluded. This paper examined the concept ofliteracy among children in selected institution’s staff school. It also assessed how literacy can bedeveloped and sustained in children. Data was gathered from selected higher institutions staff schoolsin Ondo State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire, interview and observation methods were employedto gather data for analysis. The study sample from a total of 120 teachers was obtained throughrandom sampling method. 120 questionnaires were used and 109 teachers responded, whichrepresents 90.8% of the sampled population. The study revealed that all staff schools under this studyhave a library. The study indicates that 93% of the teachers agreed that literacy can be empoweredfrom childhood through reading while 91% agreed that, reading becomes a thrilling exercise forchildren when they are exposed to print resources early. The study went further to identify variousmeans by which schools promote reading among children. The study investigated some factorsmilitating against empowering literacy from childhood. These range from state of decay of schoollibraries in the area of infrastructures to high cost of books. The study recommends that adequateattentions should be given to libraries by school authorities. Parents as part of stakeholders in literacyempowerment from childhood should have a reading time with their children. In addition, governmentshould come up with a policy for all printed materials for children imported into the country to be taxfree.This would make books available and affordable.