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The purpose of this work was to evaluate the factors perceived as affecting the teaching of Oral Communication Skills in English Language in Kenyan Secondary Schools. This was due to the claim that the teaching of Oral Skills is the most neglected area in the English Language Programme for Secondary Schools. It is said that in many language classrooms, the teacher plays an active role whereas the learners remain passive. The learners have thus no opportunity to practise Oral Skills in the class. The author of this work takes concern of this deplorable status of Oral Skills and recommends that the skills need to be tested at the end of the secondary school course and that language teacher trainers need to emphasize the teaching of Oral Skills in schools.

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Richard Mwamba studied at Shivaji University (Maharashtra) India, Egerton University, and Moi University, both in Kenya. Mwamba is currently at the last level of his D.Phil programme at Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya and a part-time lecturer at Kisii University College, teaching English Language and Communication Studies.

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