Naija Government Don Cancel Mother Tongue Education Policy, English Don Come Back!

Abuja, Nigeria – Naija government don finally talk say dem go scrap that controversial policy wey say make children sabi their indigenous languages first before dem fit learn English. Education Minister Tunji Alausa talk say the program, wey don dey since three years, no work as dem hope am, and so, it go gree waka with immediate effect.

As e be now, English go resume as di main language wey dem go dey use from pre-primary level go reach university. Na former Education Minister Adamu Adamu na in start the program. In brain behind the matter be say children go learn well-well if dem dey taught in their own mother tongue. But as dem don find am now, wetin he talk no pass big talk now.

In fact, Alausa dey show di world say dem fit track poor academic results for di areas wey don adopt di mother tongue instruction. Dem no lie as WAEC, Neco, and Jamb scores no dey smile for some geopolitical zones wey follow di policy join.

“We don see plenty failure rate for WAEC, Neco and Jamb from di places wey like mother tongue pass, and dem na di same places wey no gree shine,” di minister yarn. Everybody as e dey expect, dem no fit carry bad results waka go anywhere, abi?

Di quick cancellation of dis policy don cause gbege for the education sector. Some people dey hail di government decision, agree say di implementation na wahala on its own and e dey contribute to falling standards wey fit make dem cry.

But some folks don chop their tongue to say dem don dump di policy too soon. Dey argue say such major change need better investment in teacher training, books, and we fit need small time before e go make sense. E no easy to jangle language matter like say na palm wine padi wey dey flow.

Education expert, Dr. Aliyu Tilde, dey clap for di government for di reversal, e tok say Naija no ready for dat kind wahala. “Does Nigeria get trained teachers wey fit teach in di plenty indigenous languages wey dey? No. Even major exams like WAEC and Jamb, no dey in dem languages. Wetin we need na qualified teachers to make our schools shine,” e tell BBC.

One mama wey get two children wey dey learn for early education, Hajara Musa, no too agree with di people wey complain, she dey support di change say e go help dem learn English from dey small. “English na global language and e dey everywhere, I feel say make dem start to use am from di beginning instead of when dem done old,” she tell di BBC with plenty hope.

But social affairs analyst Habu Dauda wan put di matter for balance. E talk say di government don scrap di policy too fast, make dem give am more time. “Three years no plenty to judge di serious shift, di government suppose don add more investment first,” he respond.

This whole matter just dey show di wetin dey ground for Naija as dem dey try balance di promotion of our many languages while dem dey face di practical matter of wetin English dey demand in global market. In summary, di debate wey dey happen dey highlight di wahala of finding di right path for education in Nigeria.