Asian Research Thesis Index

Abstract

An Evaluation of English Textbooks at SSC Level in Government Schools of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa The present study sought to evaluate English textbooks which are taught at government schools of Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa at SSC (Secondary School Certificate) level. The main purpose was to see congruence in the objectives laid down by the National Curriculum Wing and the textbooks prepared by Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa Textbook Board. The study was based on multimodel approach of Creswell (2005) in which both quantitative and qualitative data were collected, analyzed and compared to have a richer insight into the research problem. Quantitatively, survey research method was adopted and questionnaires were prepared and administered to students and teachers. The questionnaires were made keeping in view the research objectives and the objectives of National Curriculum Wing covering four main skills ; speaking, writing, reading, listening and three sub skills; pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. The questionnaires were translated into Urdu, piloted and their validity and reliability were calculated. In order to collect data qualitatively, a checklist was devised having seven broad categories like the questionnaires and the prescribed textbooks were evaluated against them. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and frequencies, means, standard deviation were calculated. The qualitative data was thematically analyzed. The findings of the study reveal that the prescribed textbooks are not good enough to achieve the objectives spelled out by National Curriculum Wing. Listening skills and pronunciation are altogether ignored. As far as other skills, traditional methods of presentation are adopted. In case of writing, product approach is adopted instead of process. Likewise, in case of grammar, artificial and contrived discrete point activities are provided. The focus of attention is form and not functions. Moreover effort is made to teach language at word and sentence level and not at discourse level. Reading section is not challenging for students and vocabulary section does not enable students to become autonomous learners. To sum up, the prescribed textbooks do not help the students to become communicatively competent. In the light of the findings of the research, suggestions for improvement of textbooks and recommendations for further research were suggested.

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