Practices, Challenges and Opportunities of Using Afan Oromo as a Medium of Instruction in Upper Primary Schools of Berbere Woreda, Bale Zone, Oromia, South East Ethiopia

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to investigate practices, challenges and opportunities of using Afan Oromo as a medium of instruction in upper primary schools of Berbere Woreda, Bale Zone, Oromia, and South East Ethiopia.  To attain the purpose of the study, mixed research design, that put on both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed and more specifically, concurrent triangulation mixed research design was employed.  The populations of the study were teachers, students, CRC supervisors, and school principals were found upper primary schools of Berbere Woreda. Of these 45 teachers and 395 sample students were selected by using simple random sampling techniques respectively. Whereas, nine CRC supervisors and nine principals were selected by purposive sampling techniques. Questionnaires for teachers and students and interviews for CRC supervisors, and principals were the instruments employed for data collection. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics like frequency distribution (fd), percentage (%) mean (m) and t-test. The qualitative data was analyzed by narration and personal interpretation of the researcher. The finding of the study showed that; although there are the practices of using Afan Oromo as a medium of instruction, these practices are challenged by the absence of adequate reference materials and existence of negative perception of parents, students and local communities. The availability of Ethiopian Education and training policy and language policy has enormous opportunity for the use of mother tongues such as Afan Oromo as medium of instruction. So, to use Afan Oromo as medium of instruction in the upper primary school, it’s better to fulfill necessary supplies and exercise every opportunity that supports this practice. Finally, based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommended that strong collaboration among stakeholders needs to be undertaken to ensure the real practice of using Afan Oromo as medium of instruction in upper primary schools of Berbere  Woreda, Bale Zone Oromia, South East Ethiopia.

Keywords: Afan Oromo, Practices, Challenges, Opportunities, Afan Oromo, Mother Tongue

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/70-02

Publication date:July 31^st 2020