Sinama as a Medium of Instructionin Teaching MAthematics in Grade 1 Badjao Pupils in Batangas City

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Primary levels are often considered as one of the most important stage of a child's school career. It is the foundation for the rest of their education where they can acquire knowledge that they will be using in their future. One of the core subjects of the primary level is Mathematics; and now under the K-12 curriculum, it is stated that Mathematics in the primary level is needed to be taught using Mother Tongue. It is the policy of the State to establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people, the country, and the society at large and to create a functional basic education system that will develop productive and responsible citizens equipped with the essential competencies, skills, and values for both life-long learning and employment.

METHODS

The researcher used a descriptive type of research. Interview and utilization of descriptive method was observed in this study. They correspond to the main objective of this research which is to describe Sinama as a medium of instruction in teaching Mathematics in Grade 1 Badjao pupils and how this can help them master the lessons. Analysis of the daily quizzes of the Badjao pupils both in Sinama and Filipino language was also done to know which certain language the learners showhigh achievement.

RESULTS

Pupils got higher score in most of the quizzes that were given after each lesson when the teacher uses Sinama language than when the teacher uses Filipino. Though the difference between their score was only minimal. The interview conducted by the researcher to 10 Grade 1 Badjao learners has been thematically analyzed. It revealed that there is a high level of effectiveness of using Mother Tongue-Based instruction in teaching Mathematics in the Grade 1 Badjao learners because they learned better using the said medium of instruction.

DISCUSSIONS

Using Mother Tongue in teaching Mathematics to Badjao learners had great effect with the level of their achievement. Therefore, teachers to be assigned with them should have enough knowledge on their way of life including their spoken native languages for better understanding of their needs and problems. Department of Education must be able to look for teachers who are well endowed with the language or a native speaker or if not, they should be able to have IPEd training which includes their mother tongue.