Assessment of Hindcring Factors to Usc Afarigna as a Medium of Instt'uction in Afm' Rcgional Statc: Thc Casc of Somc Selcctcd P"imary Schools
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Date
2011
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Nowaday, the practice of mother tongue instruction is common in most of the regions in
Ethiopia. Despite this Afar Regional State yet had not made it practical. Thus, the essence
of this study was to assess hinderingfactors to use Afarigna as a medium of instruction in
the Primmy Education System of the Region. Hence, Zone one, and three WoredasDubti,
Aysaita and Afambo out of eight woredas in this zone, were selected purposively
on the basis of physical accessibility, familiarity to the researcher and proximity to the
regional center. Among 44 primmy schools in these woredas-seven (out of 21), four (out
of 14), three (out of 9) i.e.14 primmy schools were selected from each woreda
proportionally using simple random sampling technique due to homogeneity of the
region. In employing a descriptive survey research method, the study made use of
questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion to solicit information ji-om 94
teachers, 112 students, 28 parents, 14 school principals, eight Woreda and Regional
Education Officials, two local linguists and two .Regional Government representatives.
Besides, document reviews were made in collect daia. The quantitative daw collected
using questionnaire was analyzed based on ji-equency counts and percentage and the
qualitative data was analyzed by summarizing the words of respondents. Accordingly, the
following major findings were obtained i) the absence of native primary teachers, lack
of native curricular experts and lack of initiation and decision by the decision makers
hampered to use Afarigna as a medium of instruction; ii) The legal policy and the
development of the language (Afarigna) factors were found to have no hindrance to use
Afarigna as a medium; iii) Afarigna as If medium at primary level was a highly well come
and eagerly awaited issue among all parents, learners and teachers; iv)The existing
situation in Afar region was found rich in terms of opportunities to use Afarigna as a
Mol; and v)The ongoing efforts made t6 use Afarigna as a working language and school
medium was deservedly considerable. Th~reajier, it was conch/ded that lack of decision
and commitment of decision makers were the key inhibiting factors about the issue under
consideration. Finally, the decision makers as well as those who involved in the education
system at different level should be initiated and committed to implement the language
policy in the region was recommended.
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common in most of the regions in Ethiopia.