THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION CONTROVERSY: LANGUAGE UTILITY OR INEFFICIENCY?
Keywords:
multilingual setting, controversy, geo-political regions, functionality.
Abstract
The choice of a medium of instruction, an aspect of status planning, is a sensitive, political and social matter in a multilingual setting. This paper explores the controversy about medium of instruction. A survey of attitude towards medium of instruction in the basic educational level was conducted in the six geo-political regions of Nigeria. A total of 600 teachers and non- teachers responded to a set of questionnaire. The result shows that language utility highly influences the choice and acceptability of medium of instruction; in fact, it may enhance its functionality.
References
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Adesina, Segun 1977. Planning and Educational Development In Nigeria. Lagos: Educational Industries Nigeria. Ltd.
Bamgbose, A. 1994. “Language and Nation Building.” In Samuel O. Asein and Festus A. Adesanoye (eds.). Language and Polity: Essays on Language and Society in Africa. Ibadan: Sam Bookman Educational and Communication Services,1 – 11.
Bill, W.E. 1964. “The Use of Vernacular Languages in Education”. In D. Hymes (led). S Language in Culture and Society. New York: Harper and Row.
Bodunde, H.A. 2004 “The Relationship among Language Policy Formulation, Preference and Implementation in the Nigerian Primary Schools” PhD. Thesis. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Bodunde, H.A. 2005. “Towards a Functional Language Policy for Primary School Instruction in Nigeria” Gege: Ogun Studies in English, 5(1): 220-233.
Chumbow, B.S. 1990. “ The Place of MT in the NPE” In: Emenanjo, EN (ed.). Multilingualism Minority Languages and Language Policy in Nigeria. Agbor: Central Book Ltd., 61 – 72.
Darkin, J. 1968. Language in Education. London: Oxford University.
Emenanjo, N. 1991. “ Language and the National Policy on education: Implications and Prospects” In B. Ipaye (ed.) Education in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future.
Essays in honour of Prof. A. B. Fafunwa. Lagos: Macmillan, Pp. 215 - 253
Emenanjo, N. 1994. “Beyond Rhetoric: From Theory to Practice in Teaching Nigerian Languages as Second Language” Nigerian Language Studies, 2: 69-80.
Fafunwa, A. B. 1977. Potentials of Utilizing African Languages for formal Education “Paper presented at FESTAC 77 Colloquium, Jan. 10th – 20th.
Federal Government of Nigeria 1981. National Policy on education (revised). Lagos: Federal Ministry of Information
Heine, B. 1977. Vertical and Horizontal Communication in Africa. Spectrum. 77(3): 231-238
Ndagi, J.O. 1984. The Essentials of Research Methodology for Nigerian Educators Ibadan: University of Ibadan Press
Obanya, Pai 1992. “Language Education in Africa: Lessons for and from Nigeria” In Ipaye (ed.): Education in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future, Lagos: Macmillan. 195 – 204.
Ogunyemi, O.O. 1991. Agricultural Science Teachers’ Perception of Mediating Instruction in Mother Tongue. In: Emhiametator, T. C (ed.). Teaching and Learning in Nigerian Language, PP 99 – 109.
Omojuwa, R.A. 1982. “Language Planning for the New Education system”. Nigerian Educational Forum, PP 103 – 115.
Stern, H.H. 1983. Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching. Oxford University Press.
Tiffen, B.W. 1975. “English versus African Languages as the Media of Education in African Primary schools”. In Brown G. and Hiskette, M (eds.) Conflict and Harmony in education in Tropical African. George Allen and Urwin.
UNESCO Report 1953. The Use of Vernacular Language in Education. Paris: UNESCO
Adesina, Segun 1977. Planning and Educational Development In Nigeria. Lagos: Educational Industries Nigeria. Ltd.
Bamgbose, A. 1994. “Language and Nation Building.” In Samuel O. Asein and Festus A. Adesanoye (eds.). Language and Polity: Essays on Language and Society in Africa. Ibadan: Sam Bookman Educational and Communication Services,1 – 11.
Bill, W.E. 1964. “The Use of Vernacular Languages in Education”. In D. Hymes (led). S Language in Culture and Society. New York: Harper and Row.
Bodunde, H.A. 2004 “The Relationship among Language Policy Formulation, Preference and Implementation in the Nigerian Primary Schools” PhD. Thesis. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Bodunde, H.A. 2005. “Towards a Functional Language Policy for Primary School Instruction in Nigeria” Gege: Ogun Studies in English, 5(1): 220-233.
Chumbow, B.S. 1990. “ The Place of MT in the NPE” In: Emenanjo, EN (ed.). Multilingualism Minority Languages and Language Policy in Nigeria. Agbor: Central Book Ltd., 61 – 72.
Darkin, J. 1968. Language in Education. London: Oxford University.
Emenanjo, N. 1991. “ Language and the National Policy on education: Implications and Prospects” In B. Ipaye (ed.) Education in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future.
Essays in honour of Prof. A. B. Fafunwa. Lagos: Macmillan, Pp. 215 - 253
Emenanjo, N. 1994. “Beyond Rhetoric: From Theory to Practice in Teaching Nigerian Languages as Second Language” Nigerian Language Studies, 2: 69-80.
Fafunwa, A. B. 1977. Potentials of Utilizing African Languages for formal Education “Paper presented at FESTAC 77 Colloquium, Jan. 10th – 20th.
Federal Government of Nigeria 1981. National Policy on education (revised). Lagos: Federal Ministry of Information
Heine, B. 1977. Vertical and Horizontal Communication in Africa. Spectrum. 77(3): 231-238
Ndagi, J.O. 1984. The Essentials of Research Methodology for Nigerian Educators Ibadan: University of Ibadan Press
Obanya, Pai 1992. “Language Education in Africa: Lessons for and from Nigeria” In Ipaye (ed.): Education in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future, Lagos: Macmillan. 195 – 204.
Ogunyemi, O.O. 1991. Agricultural Science Teachers’ Perception of Mediating Instruction in Mother Tongue. In: Emhiametator, T. C (ed.). Teaching and Learning in Nigerian Language, PP 99 – 109.
Omojuwa, R.A. 1982. “Language Planning for the New Education system”. Nigerian Educational Forum, PP 103 – 115.
Stern, H.H. 1983. Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching. Oxford University Press.
Tiffen, B.W. 1975. “English versus African Languages as the Media of Education in African Primary schools”. In Brown G. and Hiskette, M (eds.) Conflict and Harmony in education in Tropical African. George Allen and Urwin.
UNESCO Report 1953. The Use of Vernacular Language in Education. Paris: UNESCO
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