US EditionNigeria: Govt Scraps Mother Tongue As Language of Instruction
Nigeria's education ministry cites data linking mother tongue use to high exam failure rates and mandates English to unify instruction and enhance global competitiveness.
- At the Language in Education International Conference 2025 in Abuja, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa announced the Federal Government of Nigeria cancelled the national language policy, ending indigenous instruction.
- Data from national exams showed officials said overuse of mother tongues hurt learning and linked to failures in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB, while Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa urged evidence-based governance over emotion.
- The two-day conference convened policymakers, educators, researchers and development partners from Africa, South Asia and the UK, while the British Council reaffirmed its commitment to language-responsive teaching through its Pan-Ethnic Classrooms Programme since 2015.
- English now serves as the medium of instruction for students from pre-primary through tertiary levels, aiming to give broader access to knowledge, technology and international opportunities, officials said.
- While stressing cultural preservation, Dr. Tunji Alausa said indigenous languages remain vital even as English boosts comprehension, and Julian Parry highlighted language as a bridge to inclusion and identity.
13 Articles
13 Articles
FG Drops Mother Tongue Policy
The Federal Government has directed teachers across Nigeria to prioritize English as the primary medium of instruction, officially cancelling the national policy that mandated the use of indigenous languages in schools. The move is aimed at improving learning outcomes and ensuring uniformity in classroom instruction nationwide. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy shift while speaking with journalists at the Language in…
Goodbye Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa? FG Declares English the Only Teaching Language in Nigeria — Akelicious
The Federal Government has abolished the use of indigenous languages as a medium of instruction in Nigerian schools, making English the sole language of teaching from early childhood to tertiary level. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the new directive on Wednesday at the Language in Education International Conference 2025 organised by the British Council in Abuja. The two-day conference, themed “Language, Education and Inclusi…
Nigerian Govt Stops Mother-Tongue Teaching, Declares English Sole Language of Instruction - Newsmakers
Pat Stevens/ The Nigerian Government has abolished the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in schools, declaring English the sole language of teaching from early childhood to tertiary level. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the decision on Wednesday at the Language in Education International Conference 2025 organised by the […] The post Nigerian Govt Stops Mother-Tongue Teaching, Declares English Sole La…
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FG declares English sole medium of instruction in schools, says mother tongue policy destroyed education
The Federal Government of Nigeria has cancelled the national policy mandating the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in schools. Minister of Education Tunji Alausa said this at the 2025 Language in Education International Conference, organised by the British Council in Abuja on Wednesday. According to him: “The national policy on language […]
FG Drops Mother Tongue Policy for Teaching in Schools, Gives Reasons
The Federal Government has scrapped the national policy mandating the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in schools, directing teachers nationwide to adopt English as the primary language of teaching. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the new policy during the Language in Education International Conference 2025, organised by the British Council in Abuja. According to Alausa, the shift aims to improve learni…
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