RE-ENGINEERING THE TEACHING OF IGBO LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AS WEAPONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN UNITY SCHOOLS IN SOUTH – EAST NIGERIA
Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Ngozi Ugbor
Centre for Igbo Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
&
Mrs Charity Ijeoma Ogbu
Department of Arts Education,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Abstract
The study was based on Re-engineering the teaching of Igbo language and culture as weapons for sustainable development in Unity Schools in South – East Nigeria. The need for the study arose due to the poor state of development in the area as it concerns the role which Igbo language and culture have to play therein. A survey research design was used for the study. Two research questions guided the study. The population of the study was all the 30 Igbo language teachers in all the 12 Unity Schools in South East Nigeria. Sampling of the population was not required as all the Igbo language teachers were used. Thus, the sample is the same as the population. A questionnaire titled, “Questionnaire on Teaching of Igbo language and Culture for sustainable development (QTILCSD)),” consisting 27 items was designed by the researchers and administered to 30 Igbo language teachers in Unity Schools in South – East Nigeria. The instrument was validated by two experts in language Education Igbo and another expert in Measurement and Evaluation all from University of Nigeria Nsukka. The instrument yielded overall reliability Co-efficient of 0.83 using Cronbach Apha method. The results were analyzed using mean scores. The results show that the teaching of Igbo language and culture plays a significant role in ensuring sustainable development in South-East Nigeria. The way – forward for the teaching of Igbo language and culture in South East Nigeria was extensively discussed in relation to its relevance to the study. The study recommended that Igbo language and culture curriculum should be re-versed to be in line with sustainable development goals among others. It was also recommended that government at all levels should provide adequate fund, man and material resources for the teaching of Igbo language and production of Igbo arts, craft and indigenous goods in Unity Schools as veritable weapons for sustainable development in South-East Nigeria and beyond.
Key Words: Igbo language, Culture, Teaching and Sustainable Development.