Practices Challenges And Opportunities Of Using Gumuzgna As A Medium Of Instruction In Four Primary Schools Of Metical Zone

The main purpose of the study was to investigate practices and opportunities that promoted thernuse of Gumuzgna as medium of instruction and the challenges were faced in the course of itsrnimplementation in four primary schools of Metekel Zone. To this end, a descriptive surveyrndesign was employed to collect and analyze data in addition to employing mixed approach.rnBased on the nature of respondents, sampling was carried out through random, availability andrnpurposive sampling techniques. Thus, four sample schools were selected from Debati, Mandura,rnDangur and Guba Woredas. The subjects of the study were 40 teachers, 12 parents, 5 MTrnexperts, 5 curriculum department heads and 72 students. The data was collected throughrnquestionnaire, interview, focus group discussion, document analysis and observation. The resultrnshows that, there is lack of appropriate per and in-service training of Gumuzgna teachers, therernis lack of participation of students, teachers and parents in selection of script for Gumuzgnarnmedium. There is positive attitude of some community members and politicians to use Gumuzgnarnas medium of instruction. Enthusiastic feelings of some Gumuz intellectuals, positive support ofrnthe local politicians, constitutional rights about mother tongue and experience observed fromrnother local languages were some of the opportunities that have promoted the use of Gumuzgnarnas MOI. The study also identified some achievements in relative increase of students’ enrollment,rndecrease dropout rate and repetition rates. Besides, this research result also indicated, improvedrnstudents self- esteem, self-expression and motivated classroom communication were some of thernpromoting factors. On the other hand, scarce instructional materials, insufficient time span givenrnfor training of teachers, insufficient participation of teachers in planning, selection, preparationrnand evaluation of instructional materials and community’s lack of awareness towards thernlanguage of instruction were challenges of the program. Moreover, lack of general andrnsupplementary materials, continuous follow-up, assessment, evaluation, weak academicrninstitutions and centralization of decision-making were also the critical problems. Furthermore,rnlack of need assessment and policy reach were the most pressing problems. The findingrnconcluded that there is demanding need for needs assessment, provision of instructional andrnreference materials, participation of community in decision making, in-service and pre- servicernprofessional training in the language. Further, the finding concluded that there is a need to usernthe language for academic purpose, overcome centralized decision-making and avoid dialecticalrndifference among woredas. Accordingly, it was recommended that the regional, zonal and localworeda administrators are required carry out need assessments and complete the necessaryrnpreparations before the implementation of the program. Besides, they are advised to arrangernefficient in-service and pre- service training programs to develop teachers' competence, creaternawareness and participate stakeholders in decision-making processes. Finally, all interestedrndevelopment agencies both local and international are called upon to provide their financiallyrnand technically support to the region in order to achievement the intended goal.

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