FEC APPROVES MOTHER TONGUE AS COMPULSORY LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS
By Dr. Helen Chimezie
The Federal Executive Council, FEC,
has approved a new National Language Policy which makes the mother tongue a
compulsory medium of instruction for all public primary schools.
The Minister of Education, Adamu
Adamu, made this known when addressing the press after the FEC meeting on
Wednesday.
The Minister of Education, Adamu
Adamu, noted that the policy takes immediate effect; and that the government is
aware that its implementation will be difficult but it is necessary to promote
the cultivation and use of all Nigerian languages.
He revealed that as of today, 29
languages have become extinct, leaving the country with 625 languages.
For this reason, he disclosed that
the mother tongue will be used exclusively for the first six years of
education, and then combined with the English language from Junior Secondary
School.
Adamu said even though the policy
has officially taken effect, it can only be fully implemented when government
develops instructional materials and qualified teachers are available.
He further explained that the mother
tongue to be used in each school will be the dominant language spoken by the community
where it is located.

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