The Impact of Familiar Local Language Medium of Instruction on Zambian Primary School Pupils' Academic Performance: A Case Study of Mumbwa Primary Schools

Abstract

As multiethnic and multilingual nation, Zambia has more than 70 languages spoken within its boundaries. As result of this linguistic landscape the selection of appropriate language of instruction in schools has been a challenge for a long time. In order to meet this linguistic diversity, Zambia has developed an educational framework which stipulates that familiar local languages should be used as the Medium of Instruction (MOI) from grade one to four in public primary schools. Therefore, this paper investigated the impact of mother tongue medium of instruction on pupils’ quality of learning in Zambian primary schools. The findings have revealed that the students’ ethnicity and national identity are best portrayed through mother tongue medium of instruction. In addition, acquisition of skills and application seems to be efficient in classes where such skills are taught and explained in the mother tongue of children. It has also been revealed that children in private schools where practical subjects are taught in English perform poorer than their counterparts in public schools. A descriptive method of research was used for the collection of data. 50 teachers from selected public and private primary schools and 10 parents of Mumbwa district were selected for this study. Appropriate recommendations were made in light of the findings. The study will provide further information on how local community and parents can work with schools in facilitating the teaching of children in local languages. The recommendations the study brought up will bridge the gap between the teacher training institutions and the teaching service commission in order to train and deploy teachers according to the needs of schools. This study will bring to the fore the necessity of equipping teachers with the knowledge of local language of children whilst at teacher training institutions. Keywords: Medium of instruction; familiar languages; dominant language; mother tongue;