The Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday approved the compulsory use of the mother tongue as the only medium of instruction from primary one to six as part of a new National Language Policy.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, while briefing State House reporters after the weekly FEC meeting said that mother tongue would be the only medium of instruction for the first six years of education, but starting from secondary school it would be combined with English.
The minister said that the mother tongue to be used would be the dominant language spoken by the community where the school is located, stating that all Nigerian languages are equal and will be treated as such.
Adamu said: “A memo on national policy was approved by the council. So, Nigeria now has a National Language Policy and the details will be given later by the ministry.
“One of the highlights is that the government has agreed now that henceforth, instruction in primary schools; the first six years of learning will be in the mother tongue.
“The policy says that the language of the immediate community supposed it is a very large concentration of people but they speak so many languages, the language there to be chosen is the language the community communicates with but other Nigerian languages, the policy encourages their teaching and their learning, in addition, the teaching of other international languages or subjects will continue, for instance, in primary one to six.
He acknowledged that although the policy had come into effect officially, the government was aware there would be initial challenges with its full implementation, until when qualified teachers are available and appropriate instructional materials are developed to drive the process.
“Theoretically, this policy starts today (Wednesday), but the use of mother tongue is exclusive we need time to develop the materials, get the teachers, and so on since the first six years of school should be in the mother tongue, whereby the language of the host community is what will be used.”
“Because we have 625 languages at the last count and the objective of this policy is to promote and enhance the cultivation and use of all Nigerian languages.
According to the Minister, the policy's principal goal is to protect and preserve local languages and cultural traditions.
The FEC meeting which held at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja
was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Education
Comments