In a significant policy reversal, the Federal Government of Nigeria has officially terminated the national policy that mandated the use of indigenous languages for teaching in schools. The government has now established English as the core medium of instruction across the entire educational system.
Minister Announces Major Shift at International Conference
The announcement was made publicly by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, on Wednesday, November 12. He was speaking at the Language in Education International Conference 2025, an event organized by the British Council in the nation's capital, Abuja.
The conference, which ran for two days under the theme “Language, Education and Inclusion: Empowering Every Learner,” gathered a wide array of stakeholders. Educators, policymakers, researchers, and development partners from various regions including Africa, South Asia, and the United Kingdom were present to deliberate on strategies for inclusive education.
Evidence-Based Decision for Better Results
Dr. Alausa provided the government's rationale for this dramatic change. He stated that the primary goal is to enhance learning outcomes and create a more consistent educational framework throughout Nigeria. While he recognized the cultural value of native languages, he firmly asserted that English must be the principal language of instruction from the earliest years of pre-primary education up to the tertiary level.
“The national policy on language has been cancelled. English now stands as the medium of instruction across all levels of education,” the Minister declared. He directly linked the previous use of mother tongues to academic underperformance, stating it was “largely responsible for the failures recorded in exams.”
The Minister revealed that this decision was informed by hard data. Analysis of results from major national examinations like WAEC, NECO, and JAMB indicated a troubling trend. The heavy reliance on indigenous languages in certain parts of the country was found to hinder students' comprehension, leading to a decline in their overall academic performance. Dr. Alausa stressed that such critical policy shifts must be driven by empirical evidence, not by emotional or cultural attachments.
English as a Unifying Force and Global Key
Beyond addressing exam failures, the Minister highlighted other strategic advantages of this move. In a country with hundreds of languages, English serves as a unifying communication platform, bridging ethnic and regional divides within the classroom. Furthermore, he emphasized that proficiency in English is essential for accessing global knowledge, cutting-edge technology, and international opportunities.
The British Council, host of the event, echoed the importance of language in education. Julian Parry, the Director of English Programmes for Sub-Saharan Africa, reaffirmed the organization's dedication to fostering inclusive and equitable education through teaching methods that are responsive to language needs.
“Language can act as a bridge to inclusion, identity, and opportunity for every learner,” Parry remarked. He also pointed to collaboration and the sharing of evidence as crucial elements for boosting educational achievements worldwide.
Adding to this, Chikodi Onyemerela, Director of Programmes at the British Council Nigeria, shed light on their ongoing initiatives. He mentioned the Pan-Ethnic Classrooms Programme, active since 2015, which has been developing pedagogical initiatives to help teachers incorporate inclusive practices into their daily classroom activities.
This policy change marks a fundamental transformation for Nigeria's education sector. The government is prioritizing global competitiveness and uniformity in teaching methods, while also giving assurances that it will continue to support the preservation of indigenous languages outside the formal academic environment.
