Academic Performance Among the Disadvantaged Remote Dweller Learners: A Question of English as a Medium of Instruction

Abstract

This study explored how English as a medium of instruction can impact students’ academic performance using the qualitative methodology so as to gain insights and explore the depth and richness of data on the phenomenon under study. Through the analysis of interviews, observations, and document reviews, three predominant themes were determined; use of mother tongue during lessons, low self-esteem on the part of students, and detachment from communities of origin. The paper recommends the need for a review of the language policies to solve communication problems that are visible in Botswana’s education system, especially among dwellers of remote rural areas.