The Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to scrap the National Language Policy, calls on the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, to reverse his decision.
A statement by the president, Emeritus Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, described the policy reversal as a grave disservice to Nigeria’s educational progress, warns that discontinuing mother tongue instruction without rigorous evaluation amounts to permanent recolonisation and the loss of Nigeria’s future and pride.
It faults the rationale provided by the minister, insisting that poor performance in public examinations cannot be attributed to mother tongue instruction, which ends at primary four.
It argues that overwhelming evidence supports early education in indigenous languages, improves learning outcomes, strengthens cultural identity, and promotes inclusive national development.
According to the Academy, no empirical data support claims that indigenous language teaching has undermined educational outcomes in the past 15 years.
It urges the government to strengthen implementation through teacher training, improved learning materials, stakeholder engagement, and regular evidence-based reviews.
The NAE reaffirms its readiness to work with the Ministry to ensure a functional and culturally grounded education system for future generations.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
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