Influence of pedagogical practices on literacy development in selected primary schools in Busia District

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating the influence of pedagogical practices on literacy development in selected primary schools in Busia district. The objectives of the study were to examine the pedagogical literacy practices in the development of learners‟ literacy skills, find out the challenges that teachers face in developing of learners‟ literacy skills and also find out the appropriate pedagogical strategies that teachers can adopt to develop literacy skills among learners in selected primary schools in Busia district. Through use of qualitative approach, the study employed a case study research design. Interview and observation methods were employed to collect data from the CCTs, head teachers and teachers of literacy. Data was analyzed using the thematic approach. Research findings from the field indicate the major literacy practices teachers engage learners in during literacy lessons which include: reading textbooks and non-textbook materials, identification of objects or shapes, pronunciation of words and letter sounds, storytelling, spelling exercises, tracing of objects, handling of pencil, drawing of lines to form letters, scribbling and shading of objects. The major challenges teachers face in developing of learners‟ literacy skills were: inadequate instructional materials, lack of the necessary skills to teach literacy, failure to interpret the thematic curriculum, lack of refresher courses and big sized classes. The suggested pedagogical strategies to be adopted in the development of learners‟ literacy skills included: teacher to child method, child to child approach and reading aloud technique. The study thus recommended that the CCTs and education officers should take teachers through refresher courses on literacy development, the Ministry of Education and Sports should procure and supply enough instructional materials to schools to enable learners access reading materials and also teachers need to emphasize reading aloud in class and continue with teacher to child teaching approach more especially in large classes.