An exploratory study into the problems and attitudes of Bahima parents with regard to formal school influence on their children's socialization

Abstract

The investigation for this study was carried out in the rural community of Nyabushozi County in the Nother~part of Mbarara District. ~he study aimed at examining general problems experienced by Bahiwa parents with respect to the ircfluence of rnodern formal education on the socialization of Bah Lrr.a

childre~. The concept 'socialization' was operatlcnally adopted as that process which ensures continu~ty of a socio-cultural group; a process that ensures desirable human relations within that socio-cultural entity. A necessary condition for this, is that socialization

should facilitate the infusion of appropriate new human in-put into the society's ~achinery.

The home-school environments have now become the settings for social and intellectual experiences from which Bahima children can learn, develop skills and attitudes/thrive not only materially, but also psycho-sociologically within this juxtaposed and often po LerLzed past) (traditional culture) u:l:S/ preser;t; (Gcdernization) is the issue that was central to this investigation.

The research endeavoured to explore the arove issues indirectly, by investigating variations in attitudes of parents towards their children's formal schooling, depending on factors hypothesised u~cr. as being influential in such variations. Attitude oivergpncies (both posi tive and negative oriented) were found to exist within an inter-play of a yariety of factors. The older parents, the relatively uneducated (the traditionalists) and those still living in temporary

communal settlements manifested closely relatec negative tendencies. On the other hand, the younger pareLts, the more religious especially the 'saved' (basco on

their conventional moralistic philosophy), the re La t i.v..ely hihgly educated and those living in permanent settlements manifested comparatively more positive attitude tendencies. Relevant indicators like sex preference in the provision of formal education to children and participation/non-participation in school matters helped to highlight the obscure foundations of the mentioned attitude tendencies.

In general terms, the conclusions drawn and the recoIT~endations made point to the necessity for increased efforts in promoting greater understanding of the local environment. More systematic attempts by sc~olars, particularly the indigenous, to investigate

into the real educational situation are greatly desired. This is when we can guard against arbitrary suppression of people's culture in preference to foreign and unplanned influences.

It is hoped that this study will awaken the readers to the realization of long-terffeiducational objectives consonant with discernable trends in socio- economic changes