A FINCO survey reveals a strong link between reading frequency and academic success, highlighting socio-economic gaps and the need for a stronger national reading culture.
KUALA LUMPUR: Students who read less frequently are more likely to record lower academic achievement, according to a new national survey.
The Financial Industry Collective Outreach (FINCO) survey of 1,168 students found a strong positive correlation between reading frequency and academic performance.
The findings come amid concerns over declining international assessment scores.
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 revealed Malaysia fell below the international average for reading.
Scores dropped to 388 from 415 in 2018, with fewer than half of students meeting the minimum proficiency benchmark.
The survey revealed a significant gap in self-initiated leisure reading.
More than a quarter of respondents indicated they do not read as a personal hobby.
FINCO chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim said the results underlined the importance of nurturing a love for reading beyond the classroom.
“It is encouraging to see students engaging deeply with academic texts, but we must also nurture curiosity and joy in reading beyond the classroom,” he said.
The survey highlighted socio-economic disparities in reading habits.
Students from low-income households were twice as likely to read infrequently compared with peers from higher-income families.
They were also less likely to read for pleasure.
Limited access to books at home was identified as a contributing factor.
Nearly one in three students reported having fewer than 10 books in their households.
Frequent readers were more likely to come from homes with more than 20 books.
The study found primary school students read to more than four times a week were most likely to develop strong reading habits.
Digital platforms could play a positive role in promoting reading engagement.
About 73% of frequent readers reported daily reading on digital devices, compared with 53% of infrequent readers.
FINCO chief executive officer Clare Walker said digital reading was increasingly shaping how young Malaysians engage with information.
“As students turn increasingly to screens for both learning and leisure, our goal should be to nurture habits that promote curiosity, comprehension and critical thinking,” she said.
The report outlined four key focus areas to cultivate a strong national reading culture.
These are fostering interest-driven reading, expanding access to resources, strengthening home habits, and leveraging technology responsibly.
It stressed coordinated efforts involving schools, families and communities were essential to ensure reading remained a lifelong skill.
