EFFECT OF LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION ON THE BASIC SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT OF PUPILS IN SELECTED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OBOT AKARA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of language instruction on the Basic Science achievement of pupils in selected public schools in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. In order to achieve this purpose, three objectives, research questions and null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Quasi-experimental design was adopted for the study. The design was considered appropriate because intact classes without randomisation were used for the groups. The total population of the study consisted of 1576 primary one pupils in 38 public primary schools in Obot Akara Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. A sample size of 61 primary one pupils from four intact classes was used in the study. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to obtain a representative sample for the study. The instrument used for data collection was Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT). The instrument face and content validity was determined by validates. Kuder Richardson Formula 20 was used to determine the internal consistency of Basic Science Achievement Test (BSAT) which yielded a reliability coefficient index of 0.87. Mean and standard deviation were used for answering the research questions while ANCOVA was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that there is a significant difference in the mean achievement scores of pupils taught Basic Science using English language and those taught using Local dialect methods. There is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of male and female pupils taught Basic Science using English language and those taught using Local dialect method. There is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of urban and rural pupils taught Basic Science using English language and those taught using Local dialect method. It was recommended among others that the State Ministry of Education should provide instructional materials, which are needed for the implementation of Basic Science as a method of teaching.