Title:
INFLUENCE OF CHILD FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT ON ACQUISITION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS AMONG LEARNERS IN PRE-PRIMARY ONE IN KAKAMEGA SOUTH SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Authors:
Christopher Omusula Bwamoni ,Kenya

Abstract:
Kakamega South Sub-County Education Office annual reports indicate that learners in Preprimary one in the Sub-county ECDE Centres have not adequately acquired language skills in their learning activities. Acquisition of Language skills in Pre-primary one school enables learners to effectively develop communication skills in their adult lives. Lack of early development of skills like listening, speaking, reading and writing became a communication barrier in their future learning processes. This study assessed the influence of teacher characteristics on acquisition of language skills among learners in Pre-primary one in Kakamega South Sub-County. The researcher used a descriptive design to collect views and opinions of respondents as Mugenda and Mugenda denote that a descriptive survey can be used to obtain information that describes perceptions, attitudes, behaviours or values from respondents. The researcher targeted 16 teachers-in-charge, 32 teachers for the learners and 320 learners in the Sub- County ECDE centres. All the 32 teachers and 16 teachers-in-charge and 320 learners ECDE centres were selected through census. A test retest technique was used to test for a reliability index in one centre within the Sub County. Piloting of the instrument yielded 0.90 Cronbach’s reliability index. Face and content validity was ensured by the supervisors from the department. This study used a questionnaire to collect data from teachers, interview schedules from teachers- in-charge and an observation check list for learners’ abilities. Data was analyzed thematically and converted into frequencies. Interview results were transcribed verbatim. Respondents generally agreed that although the age of a teacher, his or her qualifications, experience and efficacy greatly influence the acquisition of language skills among learners in pre-primary one school, most teachers in this sub county have not used these characteristics to improve the acquisition of language skills to learners in pre-primary one level of learning. This study recommended that although the teachers may have age, qualifications, experience and self efficacy advantage, more sensitization seminars need to be done to help them use these advantages to boost learning experiences for the learners in Pre- primary one in the Sub-county’s ECDE Centres