Language Education as Panacea for Effective Teaching and Learning among Pupils o f Primary Schools in Ogun State

Abstract

The study examines language education as a panacea for effective teaching and learning among pupils of primary schools in Ogun State, Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design, using questionnaires to acquire necessary data for the research work. The population comprises all pupils of primary schools in Ogun State. A simple random sampling technique was used to select five (5) schools in the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, in which twenty (20) pupils were randomly selected from each of the c hosen primary schools to make a total of two hundred (200) as a sample for the study. A self developed questionnaire was used as an instrument for data collection. The questionnaire contained items on the main title of the study. The instrument was given t o experts for construction and content validation. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha Two research hypotheses were used and tested for the study. Data collected were analyzed with the use of a chi square statistical tool . Findings revealed that language education is based on four essential skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing. However, as children in the early childhood period do not have literacy skills, language education focuses on listening and speaking processes of effective teaching and learning of the pupils. It was therefore recommended that English is the language of instruction in schools. Hence, students should undergo language education to promote and foster better learning in school, and parents should communicate with their children in the probable pedagogical language to create familiarity with the language.