An investigation on the implementation of using Silozi as medium of instruction from grades one to four in selected primary schools in Mongu district
Date
2020
Authors
Naipelekela, Chinyama
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
In Zambia, the language in Education policy is that from Pre- school to grade four, the
medium of classroom instruction is the Zonal language spoken in that region (source:
National Literacy Framework,2013). The move towards this policy was necessitated by
the issue of low literacy levels observed among Zambian pupils especially those in
public primary schools (SACMEQ Report). For Western Province of Zambia, the
medium of classroom instruction from Pre-school to grade four is Silozi. However, it
was not known what teachers’, head teachers’, and education standards officers’ views
were on the use of Silozi as medium of instruction. The purpose of this study was to
make an investigation on the use of Silozi as a medium of instruction from grades one
to four in selected primary schools in Mongu District. The objectives of the study were
to establish teachers’ views on the use of Silozi as medium of instruction from grades
one to four; establish teachers’ preparedness to use Silozi as medium of instruction;
analyze teachers’ classroom use of Silozi as medium of instruction, and to establish
factors that affect teachers’ use of Silozi as medium of instruction. This study was
anchored on two educational theories which are; Constructivism and Bernstein’s code
and pedagogic discourse which stress that classroom teaching does not take place in a
vacuum but is affected by many factors among which government policies and
teachers’ attitudes are an integral part. The study adopted a mixed methods approach,
and employed a social survey design where both qualitative and quantitative
methodologies of data collection were used. The following data collection methods
were used: Questionnaires, Interviews, and Observations. The purpose for using mixed
methods approach was to enable the researcher obtains in-depth information regarding
the policy of using Silozi as medium of instruction. A total of sixty-three (63)
respondents were chosen for the study; ten (10) Head teachers, fifty (50) lower primary
school class teachers, and three (3) Education Standards Officers. The primary data
obtained through questionnaires was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS), for the purpose of generating simple descriptive statistics in form of
frequencies, tables and graphs. The study revealed that 74.0 percent of the primary
school teachers were convinced and accepted that the use of Silozi as medium of
instruction from grades one to four was appropriate. It was therefore, recommended
that the Ministry of General Education should intensively orient all the primary school
teachers, University/Colleges of education lecturers, and education standards officers
on the importance of using Silozi as medium of instruction in Western Province as it
enhances children’s learning.
Key words: Zonal language, medium of instruction, familiar language
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Education--Curricula--Zambia