FG Scraps Policy on Indigenous Languages for Instruction, Proposes Major Shift to English!

FG Scraps Policy on Indigenous Languages for Instruction, Proposes Major Shift to English!

Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa

The Federal Ministry of Education has announced plans to significantly revise Nigeria’s existing education policy on indigenous languages, proposing that mother‑tongue instruction be limited to Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCDE) and Primary 1 only, rather than up to Primary 6 as previously approved. [1]

During the recent extraordinary meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE) in Abuja, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, stressed that the current policy’s full implementation has proven unworkable — citing more than 500 spoken languages, limited teaching materials in indigenous languages, and the practical dominance of English in urban schools. [2]

“In many schools we start in English anyway, so we must review this policy,” she said. [3]

Key Elements of the Revision:

• The original policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council on 30 November 2022, allowed the use of a child’s mother tongue or language of immediate environment as the medium of instruction from Primary 1 through Primary 3 (and originally proposed for up to Primary 6).
• The Ministry is now recommending that after ECCDE and Primary 1, instruction reverts to English, except for language classes. [4]
• The justification includes the logistical challenge: “With over 500 languages in Nigeria… implementation becomes complex,” according to the minister. [5]

Why It Matters:

• The shift may affect Nigeria’s multilingual identity and efforts to preserve indigenous languages within its education system.
• It reflects tensions between policy ideals (mother‑tongue literacy, cultural preservation) and practical realities (teacher training, material production, language diversity).
• The move may impact students’ foundational understanding and transition into English‑led higher education and global opportunities.
• Stakeholder groups, including language teachers’ associations, have already protested that the revision undermines earlier commitments and could weaken mother‑tongue preservation. [6]

Next Steps:

• The NCE will formally consider the proposed revision and issue an updated policy for stakeholder review.
• Efforts will be required to retrain educators, revise curricula, and manage the transition from multilingual instruction to English‑dominated systems.
• Observers will closely watch how states implement the change and how it affects rural vs. urban school performance.

Citations:

1. The Guardian Nigeria: guardian.ng/features/education/fg-seeks-reversal-of-mother-tongue-policy-in-primary-schools/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Dailygazettenig: www.dailygazettenig.com/2025/02/06/fg-seeks-reversal-of-mother-tongue-policy-in-primary-schools/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. The Sun: thesun.ng/fg-seeks-reversal-of-mother-tongue-policy-in-primary-schools/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
4. Peoples Voice: peoplesvoice.ng/2025/02/11/fg-seeks-reversal-of-mother-tongue-policy-in-primary-schools/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
5. The Sun: thesun.ng/mother-tongue-policy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
6. EXPONENT MAGAZINES NEWS: exponentnews.com.ng/2025/08/12/yoruba-teachers-demand-full-implementation-of-indigenous-language-policy-in-schools/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
7. bbcnews.com.ng: www.bbcnews.com.ng/2025/02/fg-seeks-to-overturn-mother-tongue.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

About The Author

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan

editor

Marian Opeyemi Fasesan is a dynamic journalist and editorial leader committed to excellence in news reporting and storytelling. As the Editor-in-Chief of Sele Media Africa, she ensures daily operations run smoothly while upholding the highest editorial standards. With a strong eye for detail and deep understanding of audience engagement, Marian coordinates content across platforms, guiding teams to produce compelling, timely, and credible news. Her leadership reflects the heart of Sele Media Africa’s mission—to inform, inspire, and elevate voices across the continent.

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