Despite globalization, countries like China and other western countries where children are taught in indigenous languages makes them understand better and connect easily with their teachers. Yoruba, a front-runner among the languages in the world, has now been used to teach STEM Education online in Nigeria.
The Yoruba language is mainly spoken in West Africa. The Yoruba people of South West Nigeria speak various varieties of the Yoruba language, including Egba, Ijebu, Saki, and Ondo. Some two hundred thousand Yoruba speakers also live in neighbouring Benin and Togo. In Nigeria, Yoruba claims the second most speakers nationwide behind only English, the former language of colonial British. Also, Yoruba is one of the three major languages recognised by the government of Nigeria as a medium of instruction at school.
Indigenous Knowledge V. Western Knowledge
In the meantime, many countries of the world like Cuba, China, India and Japan, had fully adopted their languages as a means of communication in schools, describing as erroneous and unfathomable, the widespread impression that local languages could reduce one’s intelligence, knowledge and brilliance. Nevertheless, according to researchers, children who learn in their own languages, or mother tongues, are more involved in class and are more likely to complete their schooling. Learning in the mother tongue also facilitates children’s ability to learn another language.
Children learn better, faster, and more exciting when instructed in their mother tongue, according to research on basic education conducted by the World Bank and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Research efforts have also found that the nations with the highest TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) scores in mathematics and science are typically those that place a higher priority on teaching students their native tongues in the classroom. In the same way, instruction in western education involves direct teaching by designated teachers as well as some practical experience. It involves the use of writing, reading and at times memorization. Specialist states, “inasmuch as education is offered, be it western or traditional, its main thrust is to mould the citizens into shapes that they will contribute meaning into the structurally of their society for sustainable all-round development.”
While there are fundamental differences between indigenous knowledge and western scientific knowledge. Even so, the indigenous system of education took an unorganized setting, with no classrooms and the curriculum was unstructured. In other words, the learning activities took place everywhere and every adult was a teacher to the child. In the interim, indigenous cultures focus on a holistic understanding of the whole that emerged from the millennium of their existence and experiences. Traditional Western worldviews tend to be more concerned with science and concentrate on compartmentalized knowledge and then focus on understanding the bigger, related picture.
Historians note that the Western education system in Nigeria started in 1842 by the Christian missionaries. This early activity was concentrated within the Lagos area (Badagry and Abeokuta) with little effort beyond. The British Colonial interest began when there was an empire problem between Kosoko and Dosumu in Lagos. The Nigerian language is the language that belongs to Nigeria as a result; the development of an individual is closely bound to the use of his indigenous language. Individuals grow, learn, and lean on the culture of the land through the effective use of the indigenous language of his environment. Scholar also suggested that indigenous language teaching and language use have suffered serious setbacks. The blame has been put severally. People who had their primary and post primary education in Nigeria would agree that despite the emphasis laid on the teaching use of the English language in our schools today, a large percentage of school children, and students still fail the subject.
Bridging STEM Education Gap
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. So take a biology class in college, and technically you’re taking a class that’s a part of STEM. However, STEM is much more than just a useful way of grouping subjects in a catchy acronym. STEM learning is not about pushing other disciplines to the back burner. It’s about an integrated, well-rounded curriculum. Today in Nigeria, STEM education is presently facing some challenges, inhibiting its development. These problems are inadequate funding, lack of creativity and employability skills, low research output, poor quality teachers, etc. Though the federal government launched the National Policy on Science and Technology Education in 2020, some educationists said it has not really helped in the penetration of STEM in schools. Bringing children, women, youths other marginalized groups into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations and economic prosperity.
Globally, many parents struggle with how to spark their children’s interest in STEM subjects. The truth is that many parents wrongly think they must possess STEM expertise in order to assist their children, or they find it awkward to encourage STEM in general to their children since they remember how difficult those courses were for them as youngsters. But in reality, parents only need to have a good outlook and be eager to study alongside their children in order to foster an interest in STEM.
Intellectuals opined that STEM courses rarely reflect consideration for the unique backgrounds of Indigenous learners. If used properly, Yoruba language is said to be precious and filled with wisdom and knowledge that can hone people’s mental abilities. However, some Nigerians are actively promoting STEM education online in Nigeria utilizing the native Yoruba language.
A Nigerian woman known as Wuruola Oyewusi, a data scientist and pharmacist, uses her native Yoruba to break down computer and science jargon in very entertaining ways for her audience to understand. On Twitter, Linkedin, and YouTube, this has attracted the interest of many users who find it outstanding and helpful for native speakers of the language who are computer enthusiasts.
Describing what drove her to do it? “There wasn’t a big philosophical reason,” she remarked. I was just goofing around and enjoying myself. I speak Yoruba very well and I am great at data science. So, I felt, why can’t I teach data science in Yoruba? It is a series on different technology concepts explained in Yoruba. She told the local daily Punch in 2022, “I guess people loved the one on data science more.
“I have been creating technical/academic content related to application of data science/AI methodologies in Yoruba for a long time. It is nice that non-technical people could relate to it and technical people can also enjoy it.”
“Plus, teaching is an opportunity to give back. I’ll typically tell you that you should write. You should write articles, write about how you’re thinking about things.” As Wuraola stated in an interview with Techpoint, “It’s both a way to put together a solid portfolio and to give back. As I said, the Internet is extremely generous and life-changing because it allows you to switch teachers if you don’t get my methodology while teaching you a concept.
“If you don’t like the video per se, you can decide to go for a tutorial. If you don’t like the tutorial, you can decide to go for maybe a Twitter thread.”
- Science in Yoruba
Science in Yoruba, which is available on YouTube and other social media platforms, provides scientific knowledge in the native Yoruba language. The platform was founded by a group of five Nigerian graduates from Tulane University, New Orleans and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan specializing in Linguistics, Physics, Chemistry and Microbiology. Namely, Taofeeq A. Adebayo, Babatola Oyetayo, Eriifeoluwa Mofoluwawo, Jegede Samuel and Awelewa Samuel Ayodele.
The initiative’s founder claim that it aims to accomplish three objectives in particular: “Translate all science textbooks used in secondary schools in Nigeria to Yoruba; Teach this translation to students at schools with the aim of improving their understanding and; Facilitate a Yoruba culture where Yoruba people discuss science in Yoruba and knowledge of science is accessible not only to Yoruba people who have Western education but also to those who do not have this kind of education by creating media contents like videos, pictures, etc. and make them available online.”
- Math in Yoruba
Math in Yoruba with Lukgaf, another YouTube channel created by Gafari Lukumon, provides online instruction to help students dispel common misconceptions about mathematics. As Lukumon stated, “I am particularly interested in starting this online class to assist students to clear some misconceptions they have about mathematics.”
Lukumon is a Nigerian math graduate from KwaZulu-Natal University, South Africa. In a transcript seen by Susa Africa, the chief instructor claims to have taught mathematics in numerous schools throughout Africa at all grade levels, from primary to graduate.
“I have more than 300 resources covering mathematics contents from primary school up to the university level. Ongoing series include as: WAEC/NECO the easy way – past questions and solutions, R programming explained in Yoruba, Calculus in 5 minutes and Complex numbers etc. All the resources are available freely also on Google drives. ” “Also, I have a television programme with EkTV Startime channel 113 and Ekiti FM 91.5,” he told Susa Africa.
It’s time to abandon the colonial idea that the English language is superior than our indigenous languages, according to stakeholders in Nigeria’s educational system. As rapidly as possible, our growth and development will be accelerated by recognizing indigenous people. Digital tech is everywhere, we depend on it every day. With a strong demand for online education, embedding digital tools into STEM teaching creates more authentic learning, students are able to develop their understanding of STEM subjects and improve the skills that are fundamental to the discipline. Nigeria may soon send its own scientists to space by utilizing internet platforms to promote STEM education through the use of indigenous languages like Yoruba.
Cover Image: Herbert Macaulay Library,Yaba, Lagos. Photo: Desola Lanre-Ologun | Unsplash
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