EFFECTS OF IGBO AND ENGLISH MEDIA OF INSTRUCTION ON PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS’ INTEREST IN MATHEMATICS IN ANAMBRA STATE

Abstract

This study determined the effects of Igbo and English media of instruction on primary school pupils’ interest in mathematics word problems in Anambra state. It was guided by four research questions and four null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance. Quasiexperimental, pre-test post-test nonrandomized control group design was used. A sample of one hundred and thirty six (136) primary three (3) pupils from a population of thirteen thousand, four hundred and thirty three (13,433) pupils was used for the study. The sample size was obtained from four primary schools selected from two education zones using two stage sampling procedure.  Data was collected using Mathematics Interest Rating Scale( MIRS). MIRS was validated by five experts; two from Department of Science Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe university Awka. Another two validators were from FCE(T), Umunze in the department of Measurement and Evaluation, and Igbo language then  one experienced primary school teacher. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach alpha. The reliability indices for MIRS in Igbo and English were found to be 0.83 and 0.84 respectively. Experimental group was taught word problems in mathematics using Igbo medium of instruction (Igbo MOI) while the control group was taught using English medium of instruction (English MOI). Data were collected by administering MIRS on the pupils as pre test and post-test. The data obtained were analysed using mean, standard deviation   and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings revealed among others that there is a significant difference between the mean interest rating scores of pupils exposed to Igbo MOI and English MOI in favour of the former group. There was no significant difference in the mean interest rating scores of male and female pupils exposed to Igbo MOI and English MOI. The study recommended among others that primary school teachers should use mother tongue( Igbo) to teach mathematics explaining  figures, facts and relationships to pupils,  the curriculum planners should incorporate the use of mother tongue in teaching mathematics in restructuring mathematics curriculum in the country.