Educators, linguists, and policymakers in Nigeria have strongly rejected the Federal Government's recent decision to enforce English as the sole medium of instruction in schools. They warn that this policy will exacerbate the country's ongoing educational crisis. This warning was issued at the end of the Annual Fafunwa Educational Foundation Conference, held in Lagos. The conference brought together prominent scholars, cultural leaders, teachers, and parents to discuss the importance of mother tongue instruction in schools.
The conference, themed "What Does The Research Say?: Mother Tongue Instruction and the Future of Early Education in Nigeria", urged the Federal Government to reverse its cancellation of the 2022 National Language Policy. This policy had aimed to promote the use of indigenous languages as the foundational basis for basic education. Professor Francis Egbokhare of the University of Ibadan argued that Nigeria's persistent learning crisis stems from a mismatch between the language of instruction and the learners' native language.
Egbokhare asserted that what appears to be poor academic performance may actually reflect language barriers rather than intellectual limitations. He warned that sidelining indigenous languages inflicts severe cultural damage, leading to a permanent loss of traditional wisdom and local worldview. The Federal Government had banned mother tongue instruction, citing a decline in student academic performance. However, conference participants disputed this claim, citing a lack of empirical evidence to support it.
Conference speakers cited decades of global and local research to support their demands. They pointed to the landmark Ife Primary Education Research Project and findings from UNESCO data, which show that children taught in their mother tongue demonstrate significantly higher reading comprehension by the end of primary and lower secondary school. The speakers argued that the policy's past failures resulted from weak implementation, underfunding, insufficient teacher training, and a lack of instructional materials.
The communique issued at the end of the conference formally called on the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to restore the 2022 policy. Stakeholders also urged state governments, the Universal Basic Education Commission, and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council to collaborate on teacher training and the development of early-grade textbooks in indigenous Nigerian languages.
The conference featured a panel session, presentation of post-doctoral awards to three scholars, and the unveiling of a new book, "Babs Fafunwa: A Mini-Biography for Youngsters". Dignitaries in attendance included the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and Prof. Sherifat Ndibe, who represented her mother, the widow of Babs Fafunwa.
The stakeholders demanded a massive commitment to teacher training and the swift development of early-grade textbooks in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and other indigenous Nigerian languages to prevent further decline in the nation's schooling system. The Federal Government's decision to enforce English as the sole medium of instruction has sparked a heated debate about the role of mother tongue instruction in Nigerian schools.
Key points
- The Federal Government's decision to enforce English as the sole medium of instruction in schools has been rejected by educators and linguists.
- Conference participants argue that mother tongue instruction is essential for improving academic performance and preserving cultural heritage.
- The stakeholders have called for the restoration of the 2022 National Language Policy and a massive commitment to teacher training and textbook development.
