This study investigated the effect of causal factors namely, availability of instructional resources, class size, school language policy and language of the catchment area on the teaching of Kiswahili at primary school since this is the formative stage of learning. The study was based on the sociocultural theory (SCT). The study was descriptive in nature. The sample comprised of teachers of Kiswahili from selected primary schools.
Kiswahili is one of the official national language in Kenya together with English. In primary school, it is one of the compulsory subjects that is nationally examined. There have been complaints about the poor performance of Kiswahili both at primary school level.
The study recommends that schools should come up with clear and working language policies in order to promote the use of Kiswahili language. For example, all the teachers, workers and pupils should use Kiswahili when addressing each other, especially during assemblies and barazas. The findings of the study shall provide insight in understanding the role of school environment to the learning of Kiswahili at primary school level.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.0 Overview
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Purpose of the Study
1.4 Objectives of the study
1.5 Research Questions
1.6 Justification of the Study
1.7 Significance of the Study
1.8 Scope and Limitation of the Study
1.8.1 Scope of the Study
1.8.2 The Limitation of the Study
1.9 Assumptions of the Study
1.10 Theoretical Framework
1.11 Definition of Operational Terms
2. Literature Review
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Use of Instructional Resources
2.3 The Class Size
2.4 The Language Policy
2.5 Language of the Catchment Area
3. Research Methodology
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Research Design
3.3 Location of the Study
3.4 Target Population
3.5 Sample and Sampling Procedure
3.6 Research Instruments
3.6.1 Questionnaire
3.6.2 Observation
3.6.3 Document Analysis
3.7 Reliability and Validity of Research Instruments
3.7.1 Validity
3.7.2 Reliability
3.7.3 Pilot Study
3.8 Data Collection Procedures
3.9 Ethical Considerations
3.10 Data Analysis
4. Data Analysis, Presentation and Interpretation
4.1 Introduction
4.2 General Information of Respondents
4.2.1 Age of the Respondents
4.2.2 Gender of the Respondents
4.2.3 Level of Education of Respondents
4.2.4 Experience in Teaching Kiswahili
4.2.5 Type of school
4.2.6 Number of Years in Current Station
4.2.7 Teachers’ Responsibility
4.3 Availability of Instructional Resources
4.4 Utilization of Instructional Resources
4.5 Utilization of School Library
4.6 Use of Kiswahili in Debate
4.7 Use of Kiswahili during Interschool Competition
4.8 Class size and Performance in Kiswahili
4.8.1 Number of Pupils in school
4.8.2 Number of Streams per Class
4.8.3 Number of Pupils per Class
4.8.4 Individual Attention to Learners
4.9 Language Policies in schools
4.10 Language of the Community Surrounding the School
4.11 Pupils Ownership of Reading Materials
5. Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary of the Findings
5.2.1 General Information on the Respondents
5.2.2 Availability of Instructional Resources
5.2.3 Utilization of Instructional Resources
5.2.4 Utilization of School Library
5.2.5 Class size and Performance in Kiswahili
5.2.6 Language Policies in schools
5.2.7 Language of the Community Surrounding the School
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendations
Research Objectives and Focus
This study investigates the influence of school environmental factors, specifically instructional resources, class size, school language policy, and the language of the surrounding community, on the performance and learning of Kiswahili in primary schools in Kapseret Sub County, Kenya.
- Availability and adequacy of instructional resources in the teaching and learning of Kiswahili.
- Impact of class size on teacher-learner interaction and academic outcomes.
- Evaluation of school language policies and their effectiveness in promoting Kiswahili usage.
- Influence of the local community language on pupils' Kiswahili proficiency.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Background of the Study
Language is perhaps the greatest mark of the attainment of civilization by human species. It is the only species that is known to use language for communication. Kiswahili is one of the languages that contributes to this civilization and is one of the fastest growing languages. Obanya (1999:29) argues that, Kiswahili is shared by many countries in Africa. It has the highest population as compared to other African languages as illustrated in Africa’s linguistic pyramid.
In that pyramid, Kiswahili is in the middle group of Lingua Franca as well as Fulfube’ and has the highest population speaking it. At the apex are the official languages like English and French, while at the base are over a thousand distinct languages. Figure 1.1 shows the Africa’s linguistic pyramid.
Ali A.and Mazrui A. M. (1998) states that the language’s growing instrumental and sentimental value has strengthened its potential for universalization. Instrumental value is collective and involves many people while sentimental value involves an individual where Kiswahili promotes the goals and aspirations of individual users.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter One: Introduction: This chapter introduces the study's background, problem statement, research objectives, and the significance of investigating the role of school environment in Kiswahili learning.
Chapter Two: Literature Review: The chapter explores existing academic perspectives on the impact of instructional resources, class size, language policy, and catchment area languages on second language acquisition.
Chapter Three: Research Methodology: This section details the research design, participant sampling, data collection tools (questionnaires, observations, document analysis), and the procedures used for data analysis.
Chapter Four: Data Analysis, Presentation and Interpretation: This chapter presents the empirical findings gathered from the field, organized by the specific study variables and respondent data.
Chapter Five: Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations: This concluding chapter synthesizes the research outcomes, provides an overall conclusion, and offers policy recommendations to improve Kiswahili learning.
Keywords
Kiswahili, School Environment, Primary Education, Instructional Resources, Class Size, Language Policy, Catchment Area, Socio-Cultural Theory, Academic Performance, Teacher-Pupil Ratio, Second Language Acquisition, Linguistic Pyramid, Kenya, Kapseret Sub County, Educational Outcomes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this study?
The study examines the role of the school environment, including instructional resources, class size, language policies, and local community languages, on the learning of Kiswahili in primary schools.
What are the central themes discussed in this research?
The central themes include the availability and utilization of teaching materials, the challenges of large class sizes, the impact of educational language policies, and the socio-linguistic influence of the surrounding community.
What is the core objective or research question of the work?
The primary objective is to investigate the causal factors that influence learning outcomes in Kiswahili at the primary school level, specifically looking at why performance has been wanting in the Kenyan educational system.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The research adopted a descriptive survey research design, utilizing quantitative data collection methods such as questionnaires, observation checklists, and document analysis from a sample of 15 primary schools.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The body covers a literature review on language pedagogy, a detailed methodology section, and a comprehensive analysis of field data comparing available vs. utilized resources and the impact of language policies on performance.
How would you characterize this research with keywords?
Key terms include Kiswahili, School Environment, Primary Education, Instructional Resources, Class Size, and Language Policy.
How does the theoretical framework relate to the study?
The study relies on Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Theory (SCT) to argue that learning is a mediated process where teachers, peers, and physical artifacts facilitate language acquisition in the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).
What specifically does the study conclude about instructional resources?
It concludes that while textbooks and basic materials are generally available, advanced resources like school radios, tape recorders, and video/CDs are largely missing or unused, which negatively impacts the multi-sensory learning of Kiswahili.
Why were Standard Six and Seven pupils selected for the sample?
They were chosen because they possess the necessary reading and comprehension skills to effectively respond to the research questionnaires, whereas lower classes were deemed insufficient and upper classes were preoccupied with national examination preparations.
- Quote paper
- Rebecca Omollo (Author), 2011, The role of the school environment in learning Kiswahili in Kenya, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/915876
