Strengthening parents’ capacities to ready children’s learning through oral reading in Luganda language

Abstract

The general objective of this study was to find out how to strengthen parents’ capacities to ready children’s Learning through oral reading in Luganda language. The study was guided by three specific objectives which included: finding out how parents ready children’s learning through oral reading in Luganda language, the challenges parents encounter to ready children’s learning through oral reading in Luganda language and examining strategies of strengthening parents’ capacities to ready children’s learning through oral reading in Luganda language. The study used a case study research design using qualitative data. The study population included parents who had children in primary three in Ndejje division in Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality, Wakiso District. Ten parents participated in this study. Data was collected using interview guides and observation checklists. Ritchie and Spencer’s five steps framework were used for data analysis. Findings revealed that parents’ ready children’s learning through providing oral reading materials, reading to them, ensure paired reading as well as engaging in their children’s oral reading activities at home which expose them to a variety of language use and vocabulary that enhance their oral skills and fluency in oral reading thus ensuring their readiness to learn. The findings discovered that parents encounter a number of challenges in trying to ready their children to learn and these included: Inadequate instructional materials where majority had less than three story books of Luganda language at home, lack of content and pedagogical knowledge in the facilitation of reading, un conducive environment, children’s negative attitude in parent’s involvement in their oral reading activities at home, time constraints and psychological and health issues. The following suggestions were made: school administrators and community members need to equip parents with learning materials to enable them actively participate in children’s oral reading activities at home. There is need for organizing committees and social media platforms to enable parents freely interact with other stake holders to improve on their competences in oral reading. Teachers need to conduct drop-in sessions and home visits to enable parents modify their skills to ensure quality learning achievements in reading. The study recommend that parents should increase on the time spent in children’s oral reading activities, school administrators and community members should conduct workshops and seminars to train parents on the needs of the curriculum, it’s objectives and how to ensure interactive learning at home, teachers should establish a good relationship with parents to keep track of children’s reading achievement and also improve parents’ capacities in engaging in their children’s oral reading activities at home.