In a significant shift for Nigeria's educational landscape, the federal government has reversed the 2022 National Language Policy that mandated mother tongue instruction in early schooling. The decision, announced recently, has sparked national conversation about language, education, and national identity.
Practical Challenges Force Policy Rethink
According to educator and journalist Oluwafemi Popoola, who spoke extensively on the policy reversal, the decision to restore English as the sole medium of instruction was guided by concrete data and practical realities. Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa made the decision based on evidence rather than sentiment, despite understandable concerns about preserving indigenous languages.
Popoola revealed that implementation of the mother tongue policy had created significant challenges in classrooms across Nigeria. Children struggled under the previous policy, with teachers often improvising translations for scientific terms and complex concepts. This improvisation ultimately compromised learning outcomes and created uneven educational experiences.
Linguistic Diversity Presents Implementation Hurdles
The stakeholder explained that Nigeria's extreme linguistic diversity made nationwide implementation of mother tongue education particularly difficult. With over 300 languages spoken across the country, creating a functional mother tongue policy proved unrealistic in many regions.
Popoola addressed critics who point to countries like Japan, France, or South Korea where students excel in their native languages. He argued these comparisons ignore Nigeria's unique linguistic landscape, where up to 15 languages can be spoken in a single local market like Jos North. Many local languages also lack standardized orthographies, further complicating their use as medium of instruction.
The commentator noted that attempting to replicate successful models like the historic Ife study by Babs Fafunwa, which showed benefits of Yoruba-medium instruction in linguistically uniform areas, would not work in Nigeria's current diverse context.
Balancing Global Access and Cultural Preservation
Popoola emphasized that the policy reversal does not dismiss the importance of indigenous languages. Instead, it prioritizes access to global knowledge systems while maintaining cultural connections.
He explained that most scientific literature, international examinations, and online learning platforms operate primarily in English. By strengthening English instruction for mathematics and science, Nigeria can better position students for global competition, similar to approaches taken by Rwanda and South Africa.
Indigenous languages will remain compulsory subjects in the revised policy, ensuring students maintain cultural literacy and connection to their heritage. This balanced approach allows for what Popoola calls bilingual empowerment - preparing students for international exams like WAEC, NECO, and JAMB while preserving cultural identity.
The policy shift is expected to reduce confusion for parents, streamline teacher training, and create more consistent learning outcomes across Nigeria's diverse educational landscape.
