By Iffy
The Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday approved a new National Language Policy which makes mother tongue a compulsory medium of instruction from primary one to six.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja said;
“A memo on national policy was approved by the council. So, Nigeria now has a National Language Policy and the details will be given later by the ministry”
“One of the highlights is that the government has agreed now that henceforth, instruction in primary schools; the first six years of learning will be in the mother tongue”
“The policy says that the language of the immediate community supposed it is a very large concentration of people but they speak so many languages, the language there to be chosen is the language the community communicate with but other Nigerian languages, the policy encourages their teaching and their learning in addition to the teaching of other international languages or subjects”
“Theoretically, this policy starts form today (Wednesday), but the use of mother tongue is exclusive but we need time to develop the material, get the teachers and so on since the first six years of school should be in the mother tongue, whereby the language of the host community is what will be used.”
“Because we have 625 languages at the last count and the objective of this policy is to promote, and enhance the cultivation and use of all Nigerian languages”
Adamu further said the council has also approved consultancy services agreement between Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and a private company, for the upgrade of the portal on which the Board records candidates seeking for admission into higher institutions of learning.
