English language to be banned in Nigeria schools

 English is currently the universal language of instruction and learning in all schools.

The Nigerian government has unveiled a plan to encourage the teaching of local languages to primary school students rather than English.

On Wednesday, Education Minister Adamu told journalists that the National Language Policy, a new framework, had been given the get-ahead to go into effect.

It stipulates that instruction for the first six years in primary schools will be in the mother tongue.

English is Nigeria’s official language and all learning institutions use it as the common language of teaching and learning.

But local languages will now take the centre stage, with the education minister saying “pupils learn much better” when they are taught in their own mother tongue.

He acknowledged that implementing the new policy would be challenging because it would “require a lot of work to develop materials to teach and get the teachers”.

Another challenge is the number of languages spoken in Nigeria – more than 600. not immediately clear when the government will start implementing the new system.

The Nigerian authorities suggest they will first provide teaching materials and teachers for the local languages before the implementation in earnest.

When the government will begin adopting the new system is not yet known.

Before beginning the implementation in earnest, the Nigerian authorities claim they will first offer teaching resources and instructors for the regional languages.