| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to investigate the use of local language in and its effect on the management of instruction at the lower primary school level (P. l to P.3) in Kajara County.
The study was motivated by the observation that by the time government started implementing the policy prescribing the use of local languages in the management of instruction at the lower primary school level, there was no adequate preparation and readiness of teachers and parents to support it, and the necessary reference materials were in limited supply. This situation led to questioning the level at which local languages were used. Consequently, the objectives of the study were to establish the level at which the local language was used in and its effect on (1) lesson planning; (2) lesson delivery; and (3) evaluation of pupils in P.1 to P.3 in Kajara County. The study was designed as a cross-sectional survey. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 509 respondents who included 10 head teachers, 120 teachers and 379 pupils randomly selected from 1 S primary schools. The data were collected using two sets of interview guides administered to head teachers and pupils, and a teachers' self-administered questionnaire.
The data were analysed using the narrative, descriptive and Chi Square methods aided by the SPSS program. Results indicate that on average, the level of using the local language was zilch in lesson planning, moderate in lesson delivery and negligible in pupil evaluation.
Therefore, local language usage did not have any effect on lesson planning. Its effect on lesson delivery and pupil evaluation was statistically significant but weak. From these findings, it was concluded that if the use of local language was strengthened, it would translate into a significant improvement in the management of instruction generally and in lesson delivery and pupil evaluation in particular. It was hence recommended that this effect should be fortified through policy intervention involving the Ministry of Education, Sports, Science & Technology liaising with the National Curriculum Development Centre and Uganda National Examination Board making all local languages used in instruction examinable. At the management and practice level, the Ministry of Education and National Curriculum Development Centre should liaise with training institutions to organize in-service training sessions for retooling teachers of lower primary schools in Kajara
County in the use of local language. The training can be implemented on a zonal basis involving local government authorities. All primary school teachers teaching P.1 to P.3 pupils should undergo organised in-service training so as to learn how to plan and deliver lessons and how to evaluate pupils in the local language. | en_US |
