Students’ challenges in summary writing at Bolgatanga Technical Institute

Abstract

This research was conducted to find out the challenges students of Bolgatanga Technical Institute have in summary writing. The study also looked at the impact of the student’s challenges in summary writing on their performance and how students can overcome their difficulties in summary writing. Forty students were selected comprising twenty boys and twenty girls together with four English language teachers to volunteer information for this research. The researcher used interviews, questionnaire, observation and students’ exercises as instruments for data collection. The study revealed that students have difficulties in reading and in identifying main ideas in written texts. Unqualified English language teachers couple with the lack of capacity building programmes for teachers constituted a huge difficulty in students learning process. Students’ difficulties in mastering summarization have affected them negatively in other areas especially in comprehension exercises. The authorities in education have been called upon to look into the training of the English language teacher and also supply the necessary logistics to make teaching and learning effective. It is recommended that school authorities should organize some award schemes for both English teachers and students to motivate them to do their best. All this can help reverse the current situation of students when it comes to summary writing.