Liberia Government (Monrovia)
13 July 2007
Monrovia — President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reiterated government's support for the teaching of Liberian languages in schools throughout the country. The most appropriate start off point, the President noted, would be at the primary school level.
The President said it was important that children grew up not only speaking their vernacular but possessing the capacity to read and write the language. "It raises the nation's vernacular to a higher level and adds more meaning to the promotion of our culture and tradition through the learning process," an Executive Mansion release quoted the President as saying.
The Liberian leader was speaking on Friday when a Multi-lingua Education Program group paid a courtesy call to thank the President for government's support toward education. She reiterated the need for Liberians to choose one local language as the nation's lingua franca.
The President praised the group for its work in adult literacy throughout the country. She said the group's work in the development of literature on Liberian vernacular, would go a long way in helping the country towards the introduction of the vernacular in Liberian schools.
Mother Tongue Literature Development Consultant, Alavina Federwitz, affectionately known as Ma Wata, spoke of the need for the adoption of a national policy to mandate the teaching of the Liberian vernacular in schools throughout the country. Education Minister, Dr. Joseph Korto, who accompanied the Team, said his Ministry would work towards the adoption of a policy to address the issue.
The Liberian Translation and Literature Organization aims at preserving the Mother-tongue by providing multi-lingua education which targets adults. The Group says it has now expanded the program by offering language courses to children.
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