Prohibition of mother tongue use among O’level students in Teso: Practices and perceptions of students, teachers and parents

Abstract

The study was about the Prohibition of Mother Tongue use among O’level Students in Teso: practices and the perceptions of students, teachers and parents. It was carried out in four randomly selected schools in the Teso Region in Eastern Uganda using observation, documentary analysis, interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires. The purpose and main objective of the study was to document the practices in secondary schools that instigate the prohibition of mother tongue use, and to gather the views and attitudes of students, parents, and teachers towards the prohibition of mother tongue use. Using a descriptive case study design, the study documented the existing practices that are used to prohibit mother tongue use in schools. It was found that the practice is ingrained in the school rules and that punishments were meted out to students who broke these rules. The conclusion was that many of these practices are inhumane and uncalled for. The students despised teachers who treated them inhumanely and this affected their learning. It was also observed that there was excessive focus on good grades in schools which was detrimental to the entire education system and a more transformational form of assessment that brings to light the children’s full potential was recommended. It was also recommended that while we are mindful of the need for students’ good performance, this should not be achieved at the expense of their language and culture.