A Study on Needs Assessment in Designing Curriculum on Mother Tongue Courses: The Case of Assosa University

Abstract

This study was aimed at assessing the needs of indigenous group of people who are born of Shinasha, Gumuz and Berta Language speakers in Metekel, Assosa and Kemashi Zones, Western part of Ethiopia. The study was conducted in Kemasi zone in kemashi and Yaso Woredas, in   Assosa zone, Assosa, Homosha, Bambassi and Mengi Woredas, where as in Metekel zone the sample areas included Wombera, Bullen, Mandura, Dangur and Guba Woredas. The objectives of this survey study were to conduct community needs on local language, to check for precondition on human and material resource to establish mother tongue education and to make decision on launching the local languages in degree program in Assosa University. The targeted population was 198 and the sample size was calculated using Yemane’s formula (n=N/(1+N(e^(2 ))) ) (Belay and Abdu Nasir, 2015). In this formula n represents sample size, N stands for number of target population and e represents margin of error (α=.05). The study was highly demanded by the indigenous people of the region - Shinasha, Berta and Gumuz people to upgrade their language in general. And Assosa University is the only higher institution in the region to run the program.  In order to collect the required data in line with needs assessment objectives, the researchers used three different data gathering tools. Questionnaire, Interview and Focus group Discussion. The data obtained were  analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Therefore, the study revealed key findings that helped to launch degree programs in Assosa University.

Keywords: Needs Assessment, Mother tongue Education, Designing Curriculum