Using english language as medium of instruction in selected schools in Kicukiro district–Rwanda: Challenges, implications, and prospects

Abstract

This research was entitled, “Using English Language as the Medium of Instruction in the teaching and learning in secondary schools in Kicukiro District in Rwanda: challenges are three difficulties facing the use of English language as medium of instruction and how these difficulties influence the quality of teaching and learning, and the implications of all the processes involved in using English as the medium of instruction. On the other hand, the prospects which are the expected outcomes of using English language as the medium of instruction in Rwanda. Questionnaires, interviews and classroom observations were used for data collection. The findings showed that the use of English language as the medium of instruction plays a great role in enabling the teaching and learning in schools in Rwanda. However, the poor use of English by the teachers has made this realization very difficulty, thus poor mastery of content subjects by the students. The research also highlighted a number of challenges facing the implementation of using English language like lack of adequate materials, shortage of English books for specific purposes, lack of adequate background knowledge in English language on the side of the learners and lack of adequate qualified teachers. The implications were teachers struggle to teach in English and as a result students fail to conceptualize in the imported language and also the fear of banning Kinyarwanda in favour of English causes negative attitude and low motivate when using English language to both by the students, teachers and examiners. The result also highlighted prospects of using English as medium of instruction as the need of Rwanda joining the East African community, joining the global market and facilitating students in Rwanda to access a lot of information written in English and also use English language to be united as Rwandase. In conclusion students, teachers and examiners need to understand that teaching and learning in English is the best way to share experiences with the world though this comes with a number of challenges, and with various implications that these challenges bring. Based on the above findings, it was recommended that teachers, examiners and students should improve their English language vocabulary by writing, listening and reading English and other specific books written in English of different areas of study. They could also increase on their reading, speaking and listening skills by following carefully the English program on radio and Rwandan television. It is also important to note that policy makers, ministry of Education, Government of Rwanda should provide adequate teaching materials, increase public libraries to promote a better culture of reading, sensitization of all Rwandans about the value of the English language as the medium of instruction, organize more training about and in English.