Opportunities and Challenges of Using Shinashigna as Medium of Instruction in Some Selected Primary Schools of Metekel Zone
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main purpose of the study was to investigate opportunities that promoted
the use of Shinashigna as medium of instruction and challenges that were
faced in the course of its implementation in some s elected primary schools of
Mete/eel Zone. To this end, a descriptive survey method was employed to collect
and analysis data. Based on the nature of respondents, sampling was carried
out through random, availability and purposive sampling techniques. Thus, five
sample schools were selected from Bullen, Dibati, Wombera and Dangur
Woredas. The subjects of the study were 25 teachers, 60 parents, 60 experts,
100 s tudents and 26 administrators. The data was collected through
questionnaire, interview (structured and unstructured) and observation
checklists. The result shows, there is positive attitude of some community and
politicians to use Shinashigna as medium. Enthusiastic feelings of some
Shinasha intellectuals, positive support of the local politicians, constitutional
rights, language policy and experience observed from other local languages
were some of the opportunities that have promoted the use of Shinashigna as
MOl. The study also identified some achievements in relative increase in
students enrollment, decrease dropout rate and repetition rates . Besides, this
research result also indicates, those most likely improved students self- esteem,
self-expression and motivated class room communication were some of the
promoting factors. On the other hand, scarce instructional materials, insufficient
time span given for training of teachers, insufficient participation of teacher in
planning, selection, preparation and evaluation of instructional materials and
lack of awareness of community to the language of instruction were challenges
of the program .Moreover, lack of general and supplementary materials,
continuous follow up, assessment ,evaluation, weak academic institutions and
centralization of decision making were also the critical problems . Finally, lack
of need assessment and policy reach were the most important problem. The
finding concluded that there is lack of need assessment, instructional
materials, reference materials, participation of community in d ecision making,
in-service and pre services professional training in the language. Moreover,
there is imbalance between book supply and demand . Further the finding
concluded that the language is used for limited purpose, centralization of
decision making and dialectical difference exists among woredas. The
Recommendations suggest that the regional, zonal and local woreda
administrators should carry out need assessments and complete the necessary
preparations before the implementation of the program .Besides, they should
arrange in service and pre service programs to develop teachers' training,
create awareness and participate stakeholders in d ecision making processes.
Finally, I would argue, all interested development agencies both local and
intemational should assist the region financially and technically to the
achievement of the goal
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Keywords
Education