Culturally Relevant Literature and Student Engagement in Nigerian Secondary Schools: Evidence from Awka, Anambra State

This study investigates the impact of culturally relevant literature on behavioural,
emotional, and cognitive engagement among secondary school students in Awka,
Anambra State. Guided by Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP), the research
adopted a descriptive survey of 80 SS2 students and 20 teachers across five schools.
Data were gathered through a two-point questionnaire and interviews and analysed
using mean, standard deviation, and thematic analysis. Results reveal that culturally
relevant literature significantly enhances attention, participation, comprehension,
motivation, and cultural identity, while also encouraging collaborative learning.
Nevertheless, challenges such as inadequate resources, curriculum rigidity, limited
teacher training, and language barriers constrain effective implementation. The
study recommends curriculum reforms, regular teacher training, and increased
access to Nigerian-authored texts to optimise the benefits of culturally relevant
literature.