Teachers' Perception on the Status of Yoruba Language in Ogbomoso basic schools in the Context of the National Policy on Education
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Date
2017
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Ilorin Journal of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the status of Mother Tongue as a medium of instruction in lower basic schools in Ogbomoso Zone, and also to ascertain teachers' perception on the status of Yoruba language instructional issues in Nigerian pre-basic and lower basic schools in the context of National Policy on Education. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The sample size consisted of 300 pre-basic and lower basic school teachers in the public and private basic schools. Teachers were selected using purposive sampling techniques from the five local governments in Ogbomoso Zone. The 20 basic schools were selected using stratified random sampling techniques, and the stratum took care of the public and private schools. Questionnaire titled “Status of Yoruba Language in Basic Schools" (SYLBS) was designed by the researchers for the study. . Five research questions were raised and answered, while research four hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Data were analysed using percentages and the t- test statistics. The results showed the perception of teachers on the status of Yoruba in basic schools, 80% claimed that they did not ever consider the status of Yoruba language in the context of National Policy on Education, 20% of the respondents confessed that they are aware of the mother policy but they found it difficult to implement it because they were trained through the English language, no material in the local language, English language is the language of examination, the English is the language preferred by parents both in the public and private basic schools, more importantly the local language is associated with illiteracy. Results further showed no significant differences in the responses of public and private, male and female, basic school teachers on the status of Yoruba as a medium of instruction on the context National Policy on Education. The study adopted the Choice theory and Transitional language model in the theoretical framework. It was recommended that appropriate avenues should be provided for teachers and parents' awareness of the status of Yoruba language as specified in the NPE and adequate strategies should be put in place for their implementation. Proper
monitoring would be required to ensure compliance.
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Keywords
Implementation, status, mother tongue (MT), basic schools (pre and lower basic schools), foreign language, medium of instruction