Education experts have urged the government to allow children to learn in their mother tongue and other local languages. They said this will help improve learning and reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, which is over 20 million.
At a roundtable in Abuja to mark International Literacy Day, speakers emphasised the need for the full implementation of the National Language Policy, which permits teaching in local languages up to Basic Six. They said learning in familiar languages makes it easier for children to understand lessons, do better in school, and stay interested in learning. It also helps them connect with their culture and increases their job prospects in the future.
The organisers, Quality Education Development Associates (QEDA), want the Ministry of Education to convene a national meeting to discuss how to initiate the plan. They also want teachers trained in teaching many languages and more campaigns to promote Nigeria’s local languages.
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