A major problem facing most science students is their inability to understand basic science terminologies using English Language. In this interview , Moshood Abeeb, a teacher and broadcaster who is redefining learning and teaching using Yoruba to teach Biology on air says using Indigenous language to teach will help students to learn and understand better.

Can you please tell us your name?

My name is MOSHOOD ABEEB ABIOLA

Tell us about your academic background and qualifications?

I had my Secondary School Leaving Certificate from Bishop Onabanjo High school Bodija Ibadan. I bagged my Ordinary National Diploma in Computer science from the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Ondo State, then I proceeded to the National Open University to study Biology Education. I have four years’ experience working as a Biology tutor in secondary schools and tutorial centres. I discovered the students I taught Biology in the Yoruba Language outperformed the ones in other schools taught in the English language. Then, I consulted experts, Doctors and professors in the field who works at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University to conduct research. In our research, we discovered that students taught sciences in the Yoruba Language had excellent results in their WAEC. This motivated me to seek a larger platform to teach the subject of Biology. Getting a solution to Illiteracy in society is a motivation for me.

What motivated you to begin the teaching of Biology in Yoruba Language?

I’ll say I’m passionate about making others learn from me and I’ll say my excellent performance in Yoruba as well as in the English language is a favour from the most High. It’s very easy for me to use indigenous language like Yoruba to teach science because I’m an excellent Yoruba speaker and I am lucky to grow in a society where unadulterated Yoruba is celebrated.

How do you manage to use Yoruba to teach a science subject such as Biology?

You know there are some words in biology that are not in Yoruba language and also there are some organisms we don’t have here. I interpret the ones we have here and use closer families of the animals we don’t have here to make learning easy for the listeners.

Do you support using an indigenous language such as Yoruba to teach Biology?

Yes, I am an advocate of using the Yoruba language to teach in schools, if the westerners and the Chinese can use English to teach which helped them develop, why can’t we go back to our roots by using our language to teach?

What is your advice for students who find it challenging to comprehend using the English Language as a means of teaching in schools?

They should consult experts to get answers and should remain curious to learn more. The fastest way to learn is interpreting English to your own indigenous language.

What is your advice for educational policymakers?

Our policymakers should do more in the educational sector. We should not let foreign languages overshadow our language. If we must develop, our curriculum in schools must encourage teaching with indigenous languages.

What is your advice for parents and guardians?

Parents should let their wards listen to our program BAOLOJI ni Yoruba on Oluyole FM 98.5 every Friday by 5 pm, they should not relent in motivating their wards to speak indigenous languages as much as they speak English perfectly.

What is the feedback from your audience on the radio like?

To the glory of God, the feedback has been an encouraging one. Parents call us to pray for us as a show of appreciation for the good work we are doing. Also students call to ask questions not clear to them.  We are working on taking the program to the grassroots more by organising a science Contest for students in the State and region to teach all. Science subjects in Yoruba.