Comparative Analysis of the English Language Usage of Pupils in Public and Private Primary Schools in Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the English language usage of pupils in public and private primary schools. The sample used for the study consisted of fifty (50) teachers from public primary schools and fifty (50) from private primary schools. A simple self developed questionnaire was used to get information from the respondents regarding the extent to which pupils in primary school use English. Three research hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance during the study. The findings indicated that there was significant difference between the level of exposure of pupils in public and private schools to English at home; the usage of English     language in teaching and learning in private and public schools; and the level of exposure to English language of pupils at school in public and private schools. The study, therefore recommended that government should make necessary review of language policy in order to make it workable in our primary schools. It should be noted that too much emphasis should not be placed on mother tongue education to the detriment of English and vice versa.