Prof. Carolyne Omulando | KCA University Kenya (original) (raw)

Papers by Prof. Carolyne Omulando

International Journal of Innovative Research and Development

The Language of Instruction (LIE) Policy in Uganda allows schools to choose the media of instruct... more The Language of Instruction (LIE) Policy in Uganda allows schools to choose the media of instruction (MOI) during the first four years of primary education. The policy provides that English should be used right from P1 only in the urban areas and indigenous languages be used elsewhere. In practice, many schools, including peri-urban and even rural ones, opt for English right from P1 or stop using the indigenous languages earlier than stipulated by the policy. This article identifies and evaluates the reasons for the choice of MOI by schools. A qualitative approach was used to collect and analyse data from participants in purposively selected case schools. The identified reasons for the choice of MOI were informed by an interest in easing the teachers' work and improving the schools' general performance rather than enhancing individual learner comprehension for content assimilation. Recommendations are made for reviewing policy, changing teachers' attitudes toward using i...

This book is a product of a study that was carried out between 2010-2011 in secondary schools in ... more This book is a product of a study that was carried out between 2010-2011 in secondary schools in West Pokot county, Kenya. The book begins with a brief introduction of writing skills, its importance and significance in the secondary school curriculum. The book highlights challenges that teachers face in teaching composition writing in ESL contexts. It also describes the various forms of writing and briefly explains the approaches to writing. The findings of the study may be used as a guide by teachers who want to improve their students' writing competence. The challenges highlighted can be utilized by teachers and students as a stepping stone for better writing. The book will also be relevant to the school administrators in improving provision of materials and resources for writing. The Ministry of Education and Teachers Service Commission will also find the book necessary for it provides adequate information on staffing of English language teachers. The information obtained may...

he thrust of this paper is an argument that by embracing new paradigms in educational technology,... more he thrust of this paper is an argument that by embracing new paradigms in educational technology, Kenya can effectively enhance access to learning in higher education. The demand for higher education worldwide is growing at a tremendous rate and many public universities which peg their admissions on bed space are unable to meet these demands. In addition, there is a huge population of people who cannot access education through the conventional modes; these include the working class in society who would like to further their education without leaving their places of work, and the various groups of people who cannot directly register under the regular conventional education due to the demands of their professional engagements or orientations. The current attempts by universities in Kenya to meet this demand have largely taken the form of the establishment of satellite campuses in different parts of the country. However this has created many challenges: the inability to improve facilit...

DAAD and British Council, 2018

This paper scrutinises the effects of human resource capacity to implementation of Early Childhoo... more This paper scrutinises the effects of human resource capacity to implementation of Early Childhood Development and Education policy. The study was based on the Contextual Implementation Theory (CIT) whose proponent is Toole. The study used a mixed research design grounded within the pragmatism philosophical paradigm. The study population comprised of the QASOs, the Head teachers, ECDE teachers and the non-teaching staff in respective ECDCs. The sample size of the study comprised of 9 QUASOs, 27 head teachers, 81 teachers of ECDE and 27 non-teaching staff from selected public primary schools. The study utilised simple random sampling, stratified sampling and purposive sampling in choosing its study sample. The tools for data collection comprised of the questionnaire for head teachers, non-teaching staff and QASOs, focussed group interview schedule for the ECDE teachers, and the observation schedules. The study established that ECDCs in Bungoma County had sufficient, qualified, and tr...

East African Scholars Journal of Education, Humanities and Literature

Kiswahili is a very important language in Kenya. It is both a national and official language in t... more Kiswahili is a very important language in Kenya. It is both a national and official language in the republic of Kenya. However, there are concerns that the poor performance in Kiswahili in national examinations is partially attributed to the laxity in the enforcement of the school language policy. The objective of the study was to assess how the motivation, structure and enforcement of the school language policy impacts on the use of Kiswahili within the school setting, The study was conducted in 30 out of 300 public secondary schools found in Bungoma County. The respondents were 360 form three students, 90 teachers of Kiswahili and 30 principals. Stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to sample the target groups. The questionnaire, FGD guide and document analysis guide were used to collect data. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics which included the use of frequencies, percentages and narrations. The study established that the sampled s...

Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2022

The purpose of this study was to assess teachers’ technological and pedagogical knowledge of inte... more The purpose of this study was to assess teachers’ technological and pedagogical knowledge of integrating ICT in teaching English in secondary schools in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was guided by two frameworks: Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK), and Teacher Cognition. The study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design, and pragmatic world view as a philosophical orientation. The sample consisted of 20 secondary school teachers of English from Nairobi County. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used. Data was collected using an interview schedule and a teacher questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics: frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations and presented in tables and short descriptions and content analysis procedures and presented in narrations based on thematic areas derived from the...

Journal of Education and Practice, 2014

The integrated approach to teaching English language in secondary schools in Kenya was introduced... more The integrated approach to teaching English language in secondary schools in Kenya was introduced in 1986 with the inception of the 8-4-4 system of education. One of the aims of this approach in Kenya was to address the problem of poor oral skills among form four school leavers. However, evaluation of the challenges teachers face in using this approach to teach has not been adequately done. Thus a study was carried out in 2010 to identify and suggest solutions to these challenges to teaching speaking skills in English in secondary schools. This study was important because English as used in real life situation is integrated. Additionally, speaking skill is key to effective communication. When one has control of language he/she feels confident and comfortable when talking to other people. Communication is important in any carrier. A descriptive survey was carried out in secondary schools in Eldoret Municipality. This paper is, therefore, an overview of the results obtained from the study. A total of 7 secondary schools, selected using multiple sampling techniques made up the study population. Fourteen Form Three teachers of English language responded to the questionnaires, while fourteen speaking skill lessons were observed and tape-recorded. The study adopted a mixed methods approach and subsequently analyzed the data using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that all schools, irrespective of their category, faced similar challenges in the use of the integrated approach in teaching speaking skills. The major challenge for the integration of language and literature in teaching speaking skills was its demanding nature in terms of preparation and time requirements. Other challenges included shortage of teaching time, large number of students in the classroom hampering the use of more effective approaches in teaching, and mother tongue interference. From these findings, teachers would want to see the need to organize skill-based workshops and seminars to give teachers necessary capacity on how to integrate the approach in the classroom activities among other solutions. The study makes recommendations to the Ministry of Education to ensure that all schools have adequate human and non-human resources for teaching speaking skills.

IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSRJRME), 2014

The role of the teacher is to be facilitator of his students' learning. Teachers are the managers... more The role of the teacher is to be facilitator of his students' learning. Teachers are the managers of classroom activities. They are charged with the responsibility of establishing situations likely to promote communication. This paper is premised on a study which set out to determine if the role of the teacher in a Listening and Speaking class is relevant to the tenets of CLT. A descriptive research design was adopted using direct observation and interview methods for data collection. Note-taking and tape-recording were used to record class proceedings and interviews. A total of twelve secondary schools were selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Fourteen teachers of English were involved. A descriptive analysis of data was done. Frequency tables were used to highlight the data. The findings revealed that while learners were passive participants in the process of learning the listening and speaking skills, the teacher played a very active role. He took centre stage. The teacher concentrated on instructing the learner. He planned the lesson alone, and while in class he talked, asked questions, demonstrated, gave notes, answered questions, explained, narrated, described, responded and even read extracts. The learner was hardly involved. For communicative competence to be achieved, there needs to be less teacher control and more pupil centeredness in any listening and speaking task. The findings of the study may provide impetus for the teacher to reflect upon his own, and other colleagues choice of methodology in the teaching of not only Listening and Speaking but also Reading and Writing. This indeed will boost the performance of English language and make it more acceptable as a language of communication.

Journal of Exclusion Studies, 2019

Worldwide, the field of language teaching has in the last decade been going through a revolution ... more Worldwide, the field of language teaching has in the last decade been going through a revolution with the quest to come up with methodological approaches that can be regarded as efficient to effectively facilitate the language instructional process. This has borne an on-going debate regarding which is the most effective method and in which direction should language educators go with regard to enhancing the language learning process. From this perspective, an examination of language teaching methods points at a period in the world of language teaching methodology where there was a move away from the concept of “methods” deemed to restrict the teacher to a particular set of instructional practices. Born from this awakening, the concept of “eclecticism” is taking root. Eclecticism advocates focus on language teaching procedures rather than language teaching methods. Among the approaches that are taking root in language instruction is the “integration approach” to language teaching. Thi...

This book is a product of a research study which sought to establish the Language Teaching Strate... more This book is a product of a research study which sought to establish the Language Teaching Strategies (LTS) and Language Learning Strategies (LLS) used by teachers and learners of English respectively; and how they influence the English language instructional organisation. The objectives included: investigation of the language learners’ awareness and use of LLS; and determination of the language learners’ predisposition to using LLS. The conceptual framework was based on the principles of the ‘Language Teaching Theory’, the ‘Good Language Learner Model’ and the ‘Styles-and-Strategies Based Instruction Model’. The theories emphasize the fact that both the language teacher and learners have certain abilities, skills and knowledge that influence and structure language teaching-learning instructional processes. The study established that learners’ age, cognitive ability; gender and class levels influence LLS use. The more experienced teachers expressed a deeper understanding of learners...

The need to produce learners who are competent in English language is a responsibility that rests... more The need to produce learners who are competent in English language is a responsibility that rests on the shoulders of teachers. The use of authentic printed materials in the teaching of intensive reading is one such strategy that should be employed by teachers to enhance communicative competence among their learners. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate teachers’ conceptualization of authentic printed materials in the teaching of intensive reading in secondary schools in Bondo Sub-County, Siaya County. The study was based on qualitative case study design. The sample consisted of 18 teachers of English purposively selected from 35 secondary schools. Interview guide, non-participant classroom observation and document analysis checklist were used to collect data. The study established that majority of teachers know that authentic printed materials are beneficial but they do not frequently use them. Instead, they use course books in the teaching of intensive reading.

The field of language teaching has over the years been expanded to accommodate more modern and fl... more The field of language teaching has over the years been expanded to accommodate more modern and flexible approaches examining the entire process of language learning and teaching. This we believe is able to provide knowledge into a new orientation in the manner in which the modern language teacher should be educated and taken through the process of teacher development. Based on this orientation of thought to the process of language instruction, in this paper, we do envisage a language teacher who is dynamic and versatile, one who is able to reconstruct their cognitions to language teaching and learning to accommodate unique and varying instructional environments in order to experience productive language learning. Such a teacher in our view is one who is not only grounded in theory of language, language learning and acquisition and pedagogical knowledge but is also, guided by constructivist approaches to teaching and learning. This is a teacher who is able to constructively manipulat...

International journal of innovation and scientific research, 2014

In this age of globalization, the use of technology is advancing at an exponential rate and is ta... more In this age of globalization, the use of technology is advancing at an exponential rate and is taking root within many fields including education. The changed face of education predisposes pressure to the modern teacher due to a sense of knowledge and skills inadequacy. Apart from content and pedagogical knowledge, today's teacher requires knowledge, skills and expertise in the use of information communication technology (ICT) in order to enhance the instructional process. This calls for a deliberate paradigm shift in the manner in which the teacher is prepared and taken through various teacher professional development (TPD) programmes. Professional growth of a teacher is a life-long process of development beginning with pre-service training and climaxing in retirement. Theories of TPD show that teachers exhibit needs at different times in their professional lives. An analysis of these needs prompts a differentiated approach to their professional development. The teacher has to ...

Teachers face a number of challenges in teaching listening and speaking in languages. These inclu... more Teachers face a number of challenges in teaching listening and speaking in languages. These include students’ lack of motivation for developing communicative competence; low English proficiency, and resistance to class participation. In addition to these are teachers’ misconceptions, lack of training in CLT combined with deficiencies in sociolinguistic competence, little time for developing materials for communicative classes, and large classes. Other difficulties include grammar based examinations; insufficient funding; and lack of support. The study sought to find out the challenges faced in the use of the CLT approach for teaching Listening and Speaking lessons among teachers in Lugari District in Kenya. The study was grounded on Dell Hymes' theory of communicative competence. The descriptive research design was adopted, with direct observation and interview methods of data collection being used. Note-taking and tape-recording were used to record class proceedings and intervi...