PRIMARY SCHOOLS in Nigeria will no longer teach the English language and instead will prioritise learning local languages for pupils.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, confirmed the news after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, according to local media reports.
The new policy means that for the first six years of primary school, pupils will be learning their mother tongue instead of English.
It was once deemed the official language in educational institutions for the former British colony.
Mr Adamu said: “The government has agreed now that, henceforth, instruction in primary schools; the first six years of learning will be in the mother tongue.
“Since the first six years of school should be in the mother tongue. Whereby the pupil is, the language of the host community is what will be used.”
Nigeria has a plethora of 625 local languages and the revamp to learning will be “to promote, and enhance the cultivation and use of all Nigerian languages”.
Adamu added that following the first six years of pupils learning their mother tongue, teachers will then combine the English at junior secondary level.
The minister said the policy has officially been implemented in Nigeria, adding that there is still more to be done for the change to become widespread
“Theoretically, this policy starts from today, but the use of mother tongue is exclusive, but we need time to develop the material, get the teachers and so on,” he added.
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I have already stated in the Voice my feelings that Nigeria is a political basket case.
Nigeria’s decision to only teach in local Nigerian langauges is another example of Nigeria’s basket case status.
English remains the language of international business.
The children of Nigeria will be hindered if they are not able to communicate in writing, using standard English.
I think you are too anglo orientated and miss the whole point of this decision.
When you speak in a language that is foreign to you it is more difficult to be creative and therefore hinders development. Mentally one is translating from English into their mother tongue for to make sense of the subject matter. This can’t be good.You also mention the internet. Surely this will force Nigeria to insist that internet providers to Nigeria provide content in Nigerian language(s). If not then Nigeria should try and build an internet.
What a load of trash you typed. Firstly, the Voice article is highly misleading. Nigeria is not saying it will no longer ‘teach English’ in primary schools. Nigeria is saying that all LECTURES will be held in the prevailing dominant local language where each school is based. And tha is 1000% right. Nigerians are not English men, and Africans have a right to elevate their local languages sidelined by colonialists. YOU need to use your head, and understand that Africans will never allow their heritage to be subsumed by European or western conventions.
There are over 200 million nigerians. How many of them use english in international business? An international language should not cause the death of native languages for the sake of a small percentage of natives who need to use it. If a language is not taught anywhere in schools it dies within a few generations replaced by those used as languages of instructions & workplace. In Gabon 30% of the population don’t speak any African language. Their mother tongue has become French. Within another five decades it will be 60%. Within one century all Gabonese will speak French as their mother tongue. A lot of linguists are predicting that within 2 centuries all Africans will be speaking Arabic & European languages or some kind of their derivatives creoles or pidgin. There are many international & important languages. Those who need them have to learn them in secondary schools or elsewhere. English is not the only international language and should not be treated as a language from gods. All countries that haven’t decided to use their native languages are underdeveloped because it’s hard for an entire people to grow and compete using someone else culture & language.