Nigerian Education Experts Clash with Government Over Language Policy Reversal
In a significant challenge to federal education policy, the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has publicly demanded the immediate reinstatement of the National Language Policy, which mandated the use of mother tongues for instruction in early schooling.
A “Grave Disservice” to National Progress
The NAE’s position, articulated in a formal paper to Education Minister Tahir Mamman, describes the policy’s cancellation as a “grave disservice” to the country’s educational advancement. The Academy, representing leading education scholars, warns that abandoning indigenous language instruction without proper evaluation equates to “permanent recolonization and the burial of Nigeria’s future and pride.”
The Policy Shift and the Evidence Against It
The Federal Government recently rescinded the 2022 policy, which had established mother tongue as the medium of instruction for the first six years of basic education. The government’s new position designates English as the sole official language of instruction across all educational levels.
However, the NAE contends that this reversal flies in the face of established pedagogical research. The Academy cites historic initiatives like the Ife Six-Year Primary Project and contemporary bilingual studies, which consistently demonstrate that children who begin their education in a familiar indigenous language achieve better academic outcomes, including superior performance in English later in their schooling.
The NAE directly refutes the government’s rationale, stating that no empirical data links the recent policy to poor performance in public examinations, especially since mother tongue instruction was only applied up to primary four.
Broader Implications for Culture and Literacy
Beyond test scores, the Academy frames the issue as a matter of national identity and cultural preservation. It argues that early-grade learning in Nigerian languages is vital for strengthening cultural identity, promoting inclusive development, and preventing a further decline in national literacy rates.
A System Under Siege: The Twin Crisis of Insecurity
Compounding the language policy debate, the NAE issued a separate, searing statement on the resurgence of terrorist attacks on schools. The Academy declared Nigeria’s education system “under siege” and edging toward collapse.
Since the 2014 Chibok abductions, the NAE reports at least 92 school invasions, resulting in over 2,500 learners abducted, more than 180 children killed, and 90 others injured. The Academy lamented that these are “not statistics but shattered dreams, grieving families, and a generation at risk.” It estimates that over one million children now live in fear of attending school.
Call for Coordinated Action
On the language front, the NAE has urged the government to not only restore the policy but to strengthen its implementation through comprehensive teacher training, improved learning materials, and regular evidence-based reviews.
Regarding school safety, the Academy criticized existing government measures like the Safe Schools Initiative as “grossly inadequate,” providing only a “false sense of security.” It called for decisive intervention, including full protection for schools, stringent punishment for perpetrators, improved intelligence coordination, and trauma care for victims.
“Education is the lifeblood of any nation. If Nigeria fails to protect its schools and its young ones, it fails to protect its future,” the Academy’s statement concluded, urging all stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric: “The time for promises has passed; the time for results is now.”
This report is based on information originally published by Tribune Online.