August 2014 Vol. 2 No.8

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Mulatu DL
Abera AN

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Original Research Article

Challenges in use of mother tongue based education as medium of instruction in primary school for quality enhancement: in case of Wolaita Zone Administration (2012/2013)

Lerra Mulatu Dea*, Teka Teketel Basha and Naba Aklilu Abera

Wolaita Sodo University, P. O. Box: 500, Sodo, Ethiopia

E-mail: lerramulee2010@gmail.com

Accepted August 18, 2014

Abstract

Mother Tongue based multi lingual Education has become increasingly important educational principle to make the child’s language, culture and context the foundation of learning. While studies continue to show the advantages of educating children in their mother tongue both for their later acquisition and transference of reading skills to other languages, and for their total gain from educational input, the mother tongue as medium of instruction (MOI) still meets with resistance. The title of this study is therefore, Challenges in Use of Mother Tongue Based Education As Medium of Instruction in Primary School for quality enhancement: In case of Wolaita Zone Administration. Simple random sampling technique were employed to select sample public and private school and Purposive sampling to select academic staff and parents, students and teachers while the school principals were sampled using availability sampling method. The tools were used to gather relevant data from the research participants are questionnaire, in-depth semi-structured interviews, classroom observation, relevant document analysis and focus group discussion (FGD). The study result revealed the following influences at play on language choice of parents: lack of understanding, overcrowded and unorganized Wolaita medium public schools, reluctance of private schools to provide Wolaita medium instruction, absence of a clear policy that obliged the private sector provide mother tongue education, and the hegemonic position of Amharic/English language. In so doing, they disregard the role of mother tongue education in favor of second language medium. The study recommended that parents should be encouraged to choose their own language for their children and others should also appreciate their choices, teachers and school practitioners should pay attention to students’ attitude and motivation towards medium of instruction, as they are important predictors of academic performance, zone administration and education bureau should prepare and deliver enough textbooks and other educational materials to the student within appropriate time schedule of the academic year. Also highly trained and pedagogically equipped teachers should participate into the teaching learning process in order to correct the misconceptions held towards vernacular language instruction. In addition, encouraging fiction, short story, poetry and other general reading materials writers in order to have ample reading materials would be necessary. Furthermore, preparation of dictionary and developing vocabularies in all subject areas to satisfy the need of the modern science and technology are worth the effort.

Keywords: Mother tongue, Medium of instruction, quality education Language policy, Attitude, Ahievement, Motivation