Nigeria: When the Mother Tongue Fails

1 September 2011

A decades-old education policy that requires children to be taught in local language in the first three years of primary school is failing to gain traction. The policy loosely defines local language, or a vernacular, to be the language of instruction in immediate environment of a child. It also allows for English language to be taught as a subject, before being used as the medium for instruction in later schooling. Educationists are worried that the policy is not taking hold across the country, a blame they lay on the government, educators and parents alike.

"We are only not implementing what is in our laws. That is the major problem of this country," says Sani Abdullahi, an education official with the Universal Basic Education Board in Jigawa State.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.