Teachers' perceptions on the use of local languages as medium of instruction from grade 1-4 in selected Private Schools of Lusaka
type: CreativeWork
description: The study focuses on the perceptions of teachers on the use of local languages as Medium of Instruction (MoI) from grades 1 to 4 in selected private schools in Lusaka. This study was prompted by the 2013 new language policy in education in Zambia, which holds that the use of local languages for initial literacy enhances a quick and solid acquisition of literacy skills which can later be applied in learning a second language. The local languages approved as MoI in the Zambian educational curriculum are based on the 1965 language zoning when the country was divided into zones. Lusaka province, for instance was zoned as a Chinyanja speaking area. The study comprised 62 informants. 15 of these were administrators, 1 curriculum development officer, 6 parents and 40 Grades 1 and 2 teachers. The study employed qualitative research design. The findings of the study revealed that there was an emerging line divide between what could be termed as „local language‟ private schools and „English language‟ private schools. The private schools that have applied the new language policy of using the local language as the MoI are the ones referred to as „local language private schools‟ and the ones that are still using English as MoI as „English language private schools‟. Fears expressed were that this may have a serious implication on enrolment later in that one of the so called English language private schools may have an influx of learners enrolling while the so called local language private schools may have fewer pupils enrolling. The study established that the stratification was influenced by several factors such as the community in which a school is located, the status attributed to a certain language and the attitude by teachers and stakeholders. The study further revealed that schools located in urban Lusaka opted for English as MoI because it is the language commonly used in the homes of the children who are mostly foreigners and the elite Zambian. Sub urban schools were in fa…
abstract: The study focuses on the perceptions of teachers on the use of local languages as Medium of Instruction (MoI) from grades 1 to 4 in selected private schools in Lusaka. This study was prompted by the 2013 new language policy in education in Zambia, which holds that the use of local languages for initial literacy enhances a quick and solid acquisition of literacy skills which can later be applied in learning a second language. The local languages approved as MoI in the Zambian educational curriculum are based on the 1965 language zoning when the country was divided into zones. Lusaka province, for instance was zoned as a Chinyanja speaking area. The study comprised 62 informants. 15 of these were administrators, 1 curriculum development officer, 6 parents and 40 Grades 1 and 2 teachers. The study employed qualitative research design. The findings of the study revealed that there was an emerging line divide between what could be termed as „local language‟ private schools and „English language‟ private schools. The private schools that have applied the new language policy of using the local language as the MoI are the ones referred to as „local language private schools‟ and the ones that are still using English as MoI as „English language private schools‟. Fears expressed were that this may have a serious implication on enrolment later in that one of the so called English language private schools may have an influx of learners enrolling while the so called local language private schools may have fewer pupils enrolling. The study established that the stratification was influenced by several factors such as the community in which a school is located, the status attributed to a certain language and the attitude by teachers and stakeholders. The study further revealed that schools located in urban Lusaka opted for English as MoI because it is the language commonly used in the homes of the children who are mostly foreigners and the elite Zambian. Sub urban schools were in fa…
author: Ndeleki, Betty
language: en
keywords: Language and languages-Zambia
date published: 2015-11-24
date modified: 2026-07-27T22:06:18Z
provider: University of Zambia
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zambia