Rihza Galih Fathurrochman Successfully Defends Thesis on Extensive Reading Practices

Surabaya, October 23, 2025 – Rihza Galih Fathurrochman successfully defended their master's thesis today. He presents compelling narrative insights into extensive reading practices in high schools. The thesis employed narrative inquiry as its primary methodological framework. The study involved multiple in-depth interviews with 6 high school teachers from several schools across East Java province. The researcher spent considerable time in the field, building relationships with participants and collecting rich narrative data that captured the complexity of extensive reading implementation in Indonesian educational contexts.

Key Findings Reveal Complex Realities

During the defense presentation, Rihza Galih Fathurrochman outlined several significant themes that emerged from his narrative analysis. The study revealed that extensive reading programs in East Java high schools face unique contextual challenges, including the lack of strong reading habits among high school students, limited access to appropriate reading materials, varying levels of institutional support, and the tension between extensive reading practices and exam-oriented curriculum demands.

Implications for Education Policy

The thesis carries significant implications for education policy and practice in East Java and potentially across Indonesia. The findings suggest that successful extensive reading programs require more than just providing books as extensive reading need sustained institutional support, teacher training, and alignment with broader curriculum goals.

The narrative evidence presented in the thesis highlights the importance of giving teachers autonomy to adapt extensive reading approaches to their specific contexts rather than imposing rigid, one-size-fits-all programs. Several teacher narratives revealed that the most successful implementations occurred when teachers had the freedom to select materials that resonated with their students' interests and reading levels. Additionally, the research underscores the need for patience and long-term commitment to extensive reading programs.