The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, says the Federal Government has abolished Nigeria’s National Language Policy, citing its ineffectiveness in improving literacy and numeracy levels across the country.
Dr. Alausa made this known in Abuja during the opening session of the International Conference on Language in Education, organized by the British Council in collaboration with other partners.
He said the decision was reached at the last National Council on Education meeting after data revealed that the policy had negative outcomes in regions where it was extensively implemented.
According to the minister, the use of mother tongue as the primary medium of instruction in early education had “done more harm than good,” as students in some zones now struggle to read and write in English.
“We have seen a high failure rate in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations, particularly in areas that adopted the mother-tongue policy excessively,” he said. “This is evidence-based governance. English will now serve as the medium of instruction from pre-primary through tertiary education levels.”
Dr. Alausa explained that the move aims to ensure uniform comprehension and improve learning outcomes nationwide. He also commended the British Council for its continued collaboration with Nigeria to strengthen the education system.
The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmed, highlighted ongoing government efforts to address foundational learning challenges. She revealed that the ministry is developing a specialized teacher training program focused on improving literacy and numeracy skills for educators teaching from pre-primary to primary three.
“We are designing a training package that helps teachers understand the best approaches to teaching literacy and numeracy at the foundational level,” she said.
The Country Director of the British Council in Nigeria, Donna McGowan, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education reforms. “We’re committed to working closely with the ministry to enhance teacher professional development, school leadership, and language proficiency,” she stated.
The International Conference on Language in Education brought together stakeholders from across Africa to share experiences and examine best practices in the use of language as a tool for educational development.
