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Issue of Language As The Medium of Instruction in Pakistan: An Analytical Study
Issue of Language As The Medium of Instruction in Pakistan: An Analytical Study
ABSTRACT
This research paper focuses on the medium of instruction that has
been the burning issue not only in Pakistan but all around the world.
This issue has remained unresolved in Pakistan due to overwhelming
practice of other local and native languages in different provinces.
The use of English as a medium of instruction in schools has given
opportunity to a long debate whether English is better verified than
any of the native languages especially to build up the learner‟s
comprehension level at secondary school level. The n = 68 public
higher/secondary schools of Hyderabad District were taken as the
sample. The two groups of the Class VIII students comprised 100 out
of which 50 were from mother tongue and 50 were from non-mother
tongue schools respectively. Simultaneously, 15 teachers from
mother tongue and 15 from non-mother tongue schools were
respectively selected for interview. Appropriate interview protocols
were made to inspect the effect of the medium of instruction on
cognition of learners. In this regard, 5 item semi-structured
interview protocol in each was developed for teachers and students.
Data were analyzed quantitatively. The results of the study
demonstrated that students‟ cognition is better when taught in their
mother tongue and they prefer to learn the subject in their respective
mother tongues. This understanding of the subject enhances their
cognition level as well. On the other hand, teachers also illustrated
their preferences to teach in the mother tongue through which
students have better learning and understanding. Finally,
recommendations were provided for the improvement of the situation
planning.
role in linking the past and pre- tion was more extensively impar-
sent and transmitting culture, ted. Looking at the majority in
traditions, knowledge and acqu- the educational institutes, it was
iring skills to other people. It decided by the provincial gover-
develops the feelings of people nments to give education to the
enabling them to think, feel and people by using their mother
act as a unified group (Rahman, tongues as the medium of instru-
1996). It also develops the pat- ction and not English (Nurullah
riotic feelings among people. In and Naik, 1951). Therefore, the
the country, different educational issue carries on since then. Acc-
institutes apply different media ording to the UNESCO report
of instruction. Thus, the cont- (1953), the child‘s initial literacy
roversy of medium of instruction should start in his/her mother
is known to the general public in tongue. In particular, pupils sh-
the country. This deeply-rooted ould begin their school through
controversy need to be un-rooted the medium of mother tongue,
to become a conclusive end. because they understand it best.
Moreover, to begin their school
Literature Review life in the mother tongue will
The controversy of the medi- reduce the gap between home
um of instruction came into view and school to a noticeable extent.
in the sub-continent as soon as
the English people took hold and People of Pakistan come ac-
started governing the people in ross at least four languages in
the sub-continent (Rahman, 2006; their life such as Arabic, English,
Shamim, 2011). It arose first in Urdu and their provincial
Bengal between the supporters of languages (Sindhi, Balochi etc).
the classical languages on the Among these, Arabic is used in
one hand and those of English on Madrassas; English is used as the
the other hand (Nurullah and official language of the country
Naik, 1951; Rahman, 2006). The and Urdu as national language.
only relieving factor of the situ- As Urdu is the national language
ation was that the Missionary of Pakistan and it serves as the
activities were conducted on a lingua franca or link language for
very large scale in Madrassas all the regions (Rahman, 2006).
and consequently English educa- The origin of Urdu can be traced
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The Shield (ISSN-1991-8410) Vol. 11, 2016
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The Shield (ISSN-1991-8410) Vol. 11, 2016
Research Design
Sample
Table No. 01
Showing Population of the Study
English 34 2720 34
Table No. 02
Showing the Sample of the Study
Sindhi / Urdu 34 15 50
English 34 15 50
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Issue of Language as the Medium of Instruction in Pakistan
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The Shield (ISSN-1991-8410) Vol. 11, 2016
mation; coding the data; developing ted into different themes which
from the codes a description and are analyzed as follows:
thematic analysis; using computer
programs; representing the findings Findings
in tables, graphs, and figures; and
interpreting the findings. Table No. 3
Showing Teacher response
Since the present study also about the language efficiency in
aims at identifying and deve- General Science Grade VIII
loping themes and categories
Themes Theme wise %
with the help of the process sugg- Frequency of age
ested by Braun and Clarke (2006) Agreement
out of n = 30
and Cresswell (2014), this method General Science 07 23.3
of qualitative data analysis was contents in English
Comprehension 06 22.0
deemed very effective. The follo- when taught in
wing tables in Section ‗Findings‘ English
Subject teaching- 04 13.3
show the results gained through learning in English
the use of thematic data analysis When recapitulation 17 56.7
of lecture in Mother
results. Both teachers‘ and stu- Tongue (MT)
dents‘ interviews were analysed Effects on learning 07 23.3
when medium of
in detail with the careful use of learning is English in
the processes and procedures re- schools
commended for thematic ana-
lysis. The raw data was read and General Science contents in
underlined / coded repeatedly. English
During the process various the- This theme exhibits the res-
mes and categories emerged ponses pertaining to the inter-
which later were merged and re- view protocol, taken from the
duced with the overlapping the- teachers and enquired when
mes and categories. The themes General Science content is pres-
which were closely related to the ented in English in class room
objectives and research questions the students learn in better way.
were retained and are presented Thus, 73.3% responses indicate
and discussed in the subsequent the poor learning in contents of
sections. The questions of both the subject whereas 23.3% res-
interview protocols were conver- ponses support the English
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Issue of Language as the Medium of Instruction in Pakistan
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Issue of Language as the Medium of Instruction in Pakistan
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Issue of Language as the Medium of Instruction in Pakistan
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mentation Program, Islamabad: Mini- colonial Countries. New Delhi: Ori-
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