Abstract
The study examines the challenges of teaching and learning Igbo language in private secondary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT). Although the study has received much scholarly attention, regarding the public institutions in the south eastern part of the country, limited reports exist with regards to its investigation in respect of the private secondary schools. With reference to UNESCO's 2003 framework for evaluating language endangerment and vitality, the study explores these challenges. The study was conducted using a mixed methods descriptive survey design, involving quantitative and qualitative data. The target population comprised of private secondary school proprietors and proprietresses, teachers, administrators and students in Gwagwalada. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 100 participants for the study, while the data was collected through structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focused group discussions (FDGs). A pilot testing among some non-sampled private secondary schools was carried out to ascertain the reliability of the instruments. The qualitative data were analysed using frequency counts and descriptive statistics while the qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings reveal that the teaching and learning of Igbo language in private secondary schools in Gwagwalada is faced with inadequacy of trained Igbo language teachers, multiplicity of dialects, negative attitudes of the language learners, insufficiency of literacy materials and maximization of profit by the school owners and the problem of immediate need. The study concludes that teaching and learning of Igbo language in private secondary schools in Gwagwalada is severely challenged and recommends that an introduction of reward systems, creation of awareness on the consequences of language loss, campaign for language patriotism, adequate funding by the government and positive attitude of the Igbo language learners to their language, will positively contribute towards remedying Igbo language scholarship in private secondary schools in Gwagwalada and beyond.
Keywords: challenges, scholarship, language endangerment, profit maximization and literary materials.
Publication Date: 2025-12-10