Efficacy of Mother Tongue Instruction on Performance of Primary School Pupils in The Concept of Pollution in Educational Zone

Abstract

This study explored the effect of Mother tongue on the performance of primary school pupils in the concept of pollution. The objective of the study aimed to examine the mean performance score of pupils taught the concept of pollution using the mother tongue medium of instruction and those taught using the English language in the Faskari educational zone, Katsina, Nigeria. The research question and hypothesis are in line with the objective of the study. The study adopted quasi quasi-experimental research design (pre-test, treatment, post-test). The population of the study consists of all primary five pupils in Faskari local government education authority. Intact classes in two primary schools were purposively selected as samples. Mother Tongue Performance Test (MTPT) containing thirty multiple-choice items was used as the research instrument. The instrument yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.83. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question, while a t-test was used to test the hypothesis. The finding of the study revealed that students taught the concept of pollution using the mother tongue medium of instruction performed significantly better than those taught using the English language.  Based on the findings, the study recommended that the mother tongue should be made the language of instruction at the primary school level and eventually at all levels of education in Katsina and Nigeria.