Education
Nigeria Govt Approves Mother Tongue As Compulsory Language To Teach In Primary Schools
The policy has officially taken effect, it can only be fully implemented when government develops instructional materials
The Federal Executive Council has approved a new National Language Policy making the various mother tongues compulsory medium of instruction from primary one to six.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed this today, Nov. 30, while briefing reporters on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.
Mr Adamu revealed that the mother tongue will be used exclusively for the first six years of education, while it will be combined with English Language from Junior Secondary School.
He said even though the policy has officially taken effect, it can only be fully implemented when government develops instructional materials and qualified teachers are available.
Mr Adamu explained that the mother tongue to be used in each school will be the dominant language spoken by the community where it is located.
The minister said the government is prepared to preserve cultures and their peculiar idiosyncrasies, stressing that so much has been lost due to the extinction of some local languages.
He, however, assured Nigerians that all Nigerian languages are equal and will be treated as such.