The Nigerian Academy of Education, NAE, has strongly criticised the Federal Government’s decision to scrap the National Language Policy, urging Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, to reverse his decision and restore mother tongue as the language of instruction at foundational levels of schooling.
NAE, in a position paper submitted to the minister on November 25 and released to journalists on Friday, argued that overwhelming evidence supports early education in indigenous languages, which it said improves learning outcomes, strengthens cultural identity, and promotes inclusive national development.
The statement, signed by NAE President, Emeritus Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, and Secretary General, Prof. Chris Chukwurah, described the policy reversal as a “grave disservice” to Nigeria’s educational progress.