<b>REDUCING THE GAP</b><b> BETWEEN LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE AND PERFORMANCE</b><b> </b><b>THROUGH</b><b> </b><b>THE AVAILABILITY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE SUBJECT</b><b> </b><b>CURRICULUM</b><b> </b><b>AT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION LEVEL</b>

<i>This study identifies the production of an English Language</i><i> </i><i>subject curriculum for ECE instruction </i><i>as a</i><i> </i><i>measure for bridging the gap between linguistic competence and performance in the English Language in our schools. Secondary school Students from</i><i> </i><i>10 public schools in Aba metroplis were selected, with their enrolment records provided. Data revealed that students who were admitted through ECE performed better in a communication test administered to them. This study applies both quantitative and qualitative methods to arrive at its findings. It is concluded that the English Language should be given a discrete status just like other subjects in the current ECE curriculum and syllabus, as it is in the upper levels of education. By so doing, the gap between linguistic competence and performance in English, being currently experienced in our linguistic repertoire, could be bridged.</i>