Assessing Reading Literacy: Guidelines for Developing Lower Secondary School Students

Abstract

Reading literacy is an essential skill that enables individuals to perceive and comprehend information conveyed through written texts. Reading comprehension involves the reader, the text being read, and the act of reading itself, all of which are influenced by the social and cultural context in which the reading takes place. There is a framework for assessing reading literacy divided into two parts. The first part involves text processing, which includes reading fluency, locating information in the text, comprehension of the text, and evaluating and reflecting on the content. The second part concerns task management, which includes goal setting and planning, as well as monitoring, evaluating, and self-regulation. The assessment results of reading literacy are divided into six levels, reflecting different levels of reading ability. They range from the ability to locate information within a text, which involves lower-order thinking skills, to the ability to comprehend, evaluate, and reflect on the text, which requires higher-order thinking skills. The results of the 2022 reading literacy assessment revealed that the majority of Thai students performed below Level 2, indicating reading abilities lower than the basic proficiency level. Factors associated with reading literacy include schools, teachers, families, and students themselves. Accordingly, stakeholders should adopt appropriate guidelines to enhance students' reading literacy. School administrators should establish policies and support activities that promote students' reading literacy. Teachers should design projects and activities aimed at developing students' reading literacy skills. Parents should create a supportive reading environment at home and provide access to reading resources. Meanwhile, students should cultivate motivation, interest, and positive attitudes toward reading.