Impact of Using Mother tongue as Medium of instruction in Teaching Primary Mathematics in Selected Elementary Schools of San Juan West District

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This study intends to evaluate impact of using mother tongue as medium of instruction in teaching primary Mathematics by assessing the level of pupils' achievement in the said learning area and on determining its effects to their performance.

METHODS

A descriptive method was used in this study with a validated questionnaire as a research instrument. The study made use of 28 primary Mathematics teachers of selected elementary schools in San Juan West District, School Year 2017-2018, obtained through purposive sampling. Before conducting the study, the researcher secured permits to authorities. She administered the research instrument used.

RESULTS

The results of the conducted document analyses and review of existing records relative to pupils' academic achievement and learning progress in primary Mathematics revealed that the majority of them are performing fairly satisfactorily (75-79%). The evaluated records are congruent with the assessments of the teachers on the effects of mother tongue on pupils' achievement in the said learning area. As revealed in the study, the teachers rated the mother tongue as moderately useful in pupils' class performance. It is evident on the obtained composite mean of 2.61. Likewise, it is also moderately helpful in class participation, activities, and exercises with the generated composite means of 2.53 and 2.49, respectively. However, least rated by the respondents is a quarterly assessment with 2.48 composite mean. Although it obtained the lowest mean score, the mother tongue is still moderately useful.

DISCUSSIONS

Mother tongue as medium of instruction let pupils grasp basics concepts easily, meaningfully. However, pupils cannot apply what they have learned while doing activities and exercises, and when answering quarterly examinations. It denotes that pupils have low levels of academic achievements in primary Mathematics when exposed to the mother tongue. As such, there is a need to enhance further the integration and utilization of mother tongue in teaching.