Basic Literacy Skills Training To Primary School Teachers: The Impact On The Lower Grade Pupils Performance

ABSTRACT

This study was about the basic literacy skills training to primary school teachers and its impact on lower grades pupils‟ performance. References for this study were drawn from Nyamagana District-Tanzania. The study sought to meet three objectives, namely; to investigate on teachers‟ learned basic literacy skills to improve pupils‟ literacy, assessing the impacts of basic literacy skills training to primary school teachers on lower grades pupils‟ performance and to investigate on challenges that hinder effective development of basic literacy to pupils. The study employed mixed-method approach and was further actualized using descriptive cross-sectional research design. Data were collected from 210 participants who were obtained from eleven (11) public primary schools found in Mkolani and Isamilo wards in Nyamagana District. These respondents included 22 STD I and II teachers and 176 STD I and II pupils, 11 head teachers and 1 District academic officer. Data and information was gathered using questionnaire, interview guides, documentary review and observation. The analysis of the data obtained from pupils and teachers revealed that training on literacy skills has contributed to the improvement of literacy competencies to teachers as well as pupils. However, the test results revealed that 20.5% of the STD I pupils failed to read unfamiliar words, 44.3% of the STD two pupils scored below the average in comprehension skills test. This failure is said to be the result of frequent transfer of STD I and II teachers from one school or class to another, lack of school feeding programme for pupils, pupils‟ family problems, poor teaching and learning environment, or inadequate teaching/learning materials. Following these findings, it is recommended that the government, the community and other agencies should improve the provision of teachers‟ in-services training, improve teaching/learning environment, supply enough teaching/learning materials and aids, motivate teachers and enroll a reasonable number of pupils in a class.