Reading Habits of Students of Bifurcated Pre-University Colleges: A Study

Reading plays a vital role in higher education by enhancing critical thinking, expanding knowledge, and fostering intellectual growth allowing students to engage with diverse perspectives.This study explores the reading habits of students of bifurcated Pre-University (PU) colleges, examining the factors that shape their reading behaviors and preferences.Researchers adopted a descriptive survey method with a quantitative approach, focusing on students of bifurcated PU colleges in Belagavi.To gather samples, stratified random sampling technique was employed.Data was collected through a structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale and analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS.The results show that a notable number of students read daily, with most dedicating 1-2 hours to reading.Students primarily read for exam preparation and as a leisure activity.However, they face obstacles like excessive mobile phone use, challenging family circumstances, and a lack of engaging books that hinder their reading habits.Despite these hurdles, students generally hold a positive view of reading.The study underscores the importance of improving access to affordable and captivating reading materials and offers recommendations for students, educators, libraries, institutions, and policymakers to cultivate a reading culture that supports both academic success and personal growth..