Reading Habits and Academic Achievement Among Secondary School Students in Borno State

This study examined the relationship between reading habits and academic achievement among senior secondary school students in Borno State, North East Nigeria. Reading is foundational to all academic learning, and the cultivation of strong reading habits is considered essential for sustained academic performance. A descriptive-correlational design was adopted, and data were collected from 420 secondary school students in twelve government schools across Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and three other local government areas through structured questionnaires. Academic achievement was measured using students' scores in the most recent internal examinations. The study found a significant positive correlation between frequency of voluntary reading and academic achievement. Students who used school libraries regularly and spent time reading outside class performed better academically than their peers who did not. School library availability, quality of reading materials, and parental encouragement were the strongest predictors of reading habit formation. The study recommended investment in school library resources, the implementation of guided reading programmes, and community literacy campaigns targeting parents. Keywords: reading habits, academic achievement, secondary school, Borno State, school library.