A Community-Based Education Programme For Enhancing Literacy And Oral Tradition Amongst Iban Preschoolers
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Date
2011-08
Authors
Sandai, Rosline
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The development and implementation of a curriculum must be examined from the
approach that would meet the socio-cultural and developmental needs of all children
in our community. In view of this, the present study develops a community based
education programme so as to empower Iban parents to assist preschoolers learning
Iban oral tradition and literacy acquisition in the Iban language. The qualitative
research methodology was employed to gather the required data. The ethnographic
case study was chosen as the research design of the study, utilizing three core
instruments: observations, interviews and parents’ diaries for the purpose of data
triangulation. Prior to conducting the case study, four books on Iban augury, myth
and legends were produced by the researcher with the help of Iban elders and
thorough research. These books were written in the forms of rhymes and short stories
and were used as the reading materials for the community-based education
programme. The findings of this study show that all of the parents and preschoolers
liked the four books and parents perceived that the books are suitable for the
preschoolers aged 5 to 6 years old. The incorporation of attractive pictures and
figurative language has made the books well-accepted by the preschoolers and their
parents. In addition, it emerged that parents within the community are competent in
delivering the community-based programme with heavy emphasis on three types of
literacy activities namely reading aloud, drawing and writing. The programme has
enhanced children’s emergent literacy through the interaction of six elements in
decoding and comprehension.
Description
Keywords
Enhancing Literacy , Oral Tradition