Reviving Indigenous Languages through Teaching and Learning: The Case of Igala Language (Published)
The paper highlights the world’s language situation especially in Africa, where majority languages have better chances of survival than the minority ones in the face of dominant languages of the ex-colonial masters like English, French and Spanish. It analyses the state of indigenous languages in Nigeria in particular with the position of Igala language in the country and in the educational sector. The paper examines language planning ideology and the language policy in Nigeria. It discovers that there is lack of interest by government and school administrators to implement the national policy on education concerning language. Consequently, it feels that teaching and learning in indigenous languages and in Igala in particular need to be revived to save hundreds of Nigerian languages from going extinct as well as to turn around the poor state of education through early mother tongue instruction. It recommends that government at all levels should ensure the implementation of the mother tongue instruction in early education by providing funds, equipment, teaching aids and supervision.
Keywords: Extinction of Languages, Igala Language, Kogi State, Language Ideology, Language policy, Linguistic Rights, Majority Language, Minority Language, Mother tongue instruction, Multilingualism, Nigeria, Policy Implementation, Revalorization
REVIVING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES THROUGH TEACHING AND LEARNING- THE CASE OF IGALA LANGUAGE (Published)
The paper highlights the world’s language situation especially in Africa, where majority languages have better chances of survival than the minority ones in the face of dominant languages of the ex-colonial masters like English, French and Spanish. It analyses the state of indigenous languages in Nigeria in particular with the position of Igala language in the country and in the educational sector. The paper examines language planning ideology and the language policy in Nigeria. It discovers that there is lack of interest by government and school administrators to implement the national policy on education concerning language. Consequently, it feels that teaching and learning in indigenous languages and in Igala in particular need to be revived to save hundreds of Nigerian languages from going extinct as well as to turn around the poor state of education through early mother tongue instruction. It recommends that government at all levels should ensure the implementation of the mother tongue instruction in early education by providing funds, equipment, teaching aids and supervision.
Keywords: Extinction of Languages, Igala Language, Kogi State, Language Ideology, Language policy, Linguistic Rights, Majority Language, Minority Language, Mother tongue instruction, Multilingualism, Nigeria, Policy Implementation, Revalorization
A SURVEY OF THE PERCEPTION OF STUDENTS ON THE STUDY OF SEX EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES IN DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE (Published)
This study investigated into Junior Secondary School Social Studies Students perception on the study of sex education in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. Two research questions were raised to guide the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of all social studies students in 35 public and 6 registered private Junior Secondary Schools in Dekina LGA. Random sampling was used in selecting 497 students from the 1351 JSS iii Social Studies students from 16 sampled schools using purposive and proportional stratified sampling. The instrument for the study was a questionnaire which was designed by the researcher and validated by experts with a reliability coefficient of 0.98 before its administration. Based on the data obtained and analyzed using sampled mean, standard deviation and percentage, the study indicated that the students have positive perception and attitude towards sex education, and that the best person that they can discuss sex related issues with is their teacher. It was recommended among others that: (i) sex education teachers should teach comprehensive sex education without any element of prejudice to any aspect of the content, (ii) teachers should strive to create a friendly atmosphere with the students so that they can be properly guided on sex related issues.
Keywords: Dekina Local Government, Kogi State, Perception Of Students, Secondary School Social Studies, Sex Education