28: Importance of Mother Tongue in Teaching Mathematics

Content:
The use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction debate has been on
the cards fora long time now in Zimbabwe but has never had any genuine
implementation commitment from the policy makers. The study focuses on
language use and challenges teachers and pupils face in the classroom in
their attempt to use mother tongue in the teaching and learning of
mathematics at junior primary level. The study sample comprised 32 teachers
from Masvingo urban primary schools, 32 of their lessons were observed and
learners from these classes participated in the study. Observation protocol
and a structured questionnaire were the data collection instruments. The
research found out that the use of mother tongue in teaching mathematics
may not be achieved soon. Consultations with relevant stakeholders, attitude
change and resource production and mobilisation are among some of the
many issues militating against the use of mother tongue as a medium of
instruction in mathematics. One of the major recommendation was to have an
all stakeholder conference, comprising politicians, academics , language
experts, representatives from countries where mother tongue tuition has been
successfully implemented in educational settings; teachers and parents to
openly debate the feasibility of using mother tongue as a medium of
instruction in education in general. Mathematics would obviously benefit from
such a conference.

References:
https://ideas.repec.org/a/asi/joasrj/2011p194-203.html

Youtube Video Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBsBljFl4to