EFFECT OF TIV LANGUAGE ON PUPILS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN BASIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION ZONE B, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the effect of Tiv language on pupils' academic performance in Basic Science and Technology in Education Zone B of Benue State, Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of Tiv language on pupils' academic performance at Lower Basic five in Basic Science and Technology. The study was guided by two research questions and three null hypotheses. Quasi-experimental pretest posttest non randomized group design was adopted. The target population of the study was 20,895 Basic five pupils from 1,840 government approved Basic mixed sex schools in the seven local government areas of Zone B of Benue State. A sample of 390 pupils was drawn from 14 primary schools across the seven local government areas using a multistage sampling technique. Out of the 390 sample, the experimental group comprised 180 pupils while the control group comprised 210 pupils. Within 180 pupils in the experimental group, 86 were males while 94 were females. Data were collected using Basic Science and Technology Performance Test (BSTPT) with the reliability of 0.88 using Kuder-Richardson 21 formula. Mean and standard deviation scores were used to answer research questions while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings shows that pupils who were taught Basic Science and Technology using Tiv language had significant high academic performance scores than those who were taught using English language F= 144.182, Sig(0.00<0.05). No significant difference between the mean academic performance scores of male and female pupils taught Basic Science and Technology using Tiv language F= 0.504, Sig(0.48>0.05). There was no interaction effect of Tiv language and gender on pupils' academic performance F=1.304, Sig(0.26>0.05). It was recommended among others that even though, Basic Science and Technology is not taught in Tiv language but since this study confirmed that if used as a medium of instruction in the classroom it would help improve pupils' academic performance. Therefore, the Federal Ministry of Education through the Benue State Government should employ people who have the requisites qualifications to train teachers in the use of Tiv language for teaching and learning of Basic Science and Technology at the lower Basic level of education in the study area.