FILIPINO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ READING ENGAGEMENT AND INTERESTS DURING THE PANDEMIC: IMPLICATIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF STRUGGLING READERS
The present study examined Grade 7 Junior High School Filipino students’ reading engagement and reading interests during the pandemic and the factors that hinder them from reading. A survey was administered to 200 randomly selected students from four Department of Education (DepEd) schools in Northern and Southern portions of Palawan, Philippines. Questionnaires were administered face to face to students at the learners’ home. Data revealed the following: (1) About 55 percent of the students reported occasional interest in reading; (2) printed books remain a preferred reading materials followed by Facebook ; (3) 55 percent reported reading everyday but only 30 minutes to one hour is spent in reading; (4) a majority admitted engagement in Facebook, Tiktok and texting every day; (5) among the challenges affecting the reading interest of students are: household chores, noise in the neighborhood, playing online games, and watching TV series or movies; (6) about half of the students perceive their reading fluency to be an average and about 58 percent perceive that their reading habit is good. Despite the positive self-assessment of students about their reading ability and reading habit, data show that the limited time spent in reading every day is being spent mostly in facebooking, Titktok and playing online games. Besides, the household chores and noise in the home and in the neighborhood contribute to diminished interest and engagement in reading. During the transition period, language teachers and the schools have important roles in promoting intensive reading in school and at home with cooperation from parents.
Reading Interest, Reading Covid-19 Pandemic