Pronunciation: Kaduna ‘Corper’ designs learning aid for pupils
//NYSC: Shola Ojo, Kaduna//
Worried by the bad pronunciation and spelling of words among Nigerian students, a member of the National Youth Corp Service (NYSC), Christogonus Nnoromelem has designed a school learning aid – 44 phonemes to correct the trend among pupils in the local communities.
Corps members serving in Kaduna State have been in the spot light recently for impacting positively on the lives of the people of their host communities, a proof that some of them are already looking forward beyond white collar jobs after the year mandatory service to their motherland.
Currently serving at Modern Green Light Academy, Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local government area of Kaduna State, Christogonus said, Nigerian students irrespective of their levels were guilty of the bad pronunciation hence the need to correct the trend holistically.
Speaking while unvailing the 44 phonemes which he has adopted in the teaching of his students, the corps member said, he designed the 44 phonemes to address the bad communications among the students.
“I designed a phonemes chart which contains the 44 phonemes in English Language. And phonemes are distinct sounds in English language.
“I developed the sound because of the communication problems we have in this locality, microcosm called Kasuwan Magani. It has been difficult for us here to communicate effectively with the students. So I conceived it as a solution to the communication problem in the area and so far the students have been responding in their communication.
“It’s not just the nursery, primary and the secondary students that are guilty of this but even the graduates pronounce words badly.
“So I desired that by the end of this term, we would have produced students who will be able to communicate effectively without any problem,” he said.
Accorsing to his rating barely two weeks of adopting the chart in the school, 70% success has been recorded, saying the students are fast responding in the way and manner they pronounce words.
“We intend to extend it from Kaduna to Nigeria as a whole. We have been drilling students on the sounds, on how to pronounce words well. As a Corp member and as part of our Community Development program, we still go to other communities, schools and extend this to them. Last week, we were at Tudun Mare Secondary school. So this is a stepping stone as we intend to extend it to other places.
“What we intend to achieve at the end of the day is to groom a considerable number of the students at least 70 – 80% to communicate effectively,” he said.
Proprietor of the school, Mr. Vincent Okoro called on the government to include the phonemes in the school curriculums as that would help the pupils and students to have a sound concrete educational foundation.
PTA Chairman, Dimka Bahago who was delighted with the development said he saw a bright future ahead of the children as he saw future leaders and governors among the children.
Meanwhile, Chairman Governing Board of the school, Mohammad Saadu called on the government to assist the public and private schools with educational amenities to ensure the students are properly groomed.