THE ERTIREAN ENGLISH CURRICULUM: GRADES 2-6 ASSESSING ACADEMIC READINESS

Abstract

This study is an examination of the 2002 Eritrean English curriculum from Grades 2–6. In the Eritrean educational system, the nine languages of Eritrea are the languages of education until Grade 6, when students are expected to make a transition to an all-English curriculum. The purpose of the study is to ascertain whether students are prepared at the end of Grade 5 for the academic English of Grade 6. The criteria for preparedness is mastery of vocabulary. Data from the Eritrean National Reading Survey and the vocabulary counts from the curriculum of Grades 2–5 and Grade 6 were compared. The National Reading Survey provided results on vocabulary mastery and reading comprehension from a sample of students in each language group for Grades 2, 3 and 5. The results of relevant correlations, word counts, density and frequency measures showed clear evidence that the material in the Grade 6 curriculum is beyond the level that Grade 5 students have attained in relation to vocabulary. The problems of the curriculum are addressed and suggestions for improvements are detailed.