The Bible Society of Nigeria and the Yoruba World Centre have commended the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the new education policy that the mother tongue should be a compulsory medium of instruction from Primary 1-6.
The PUNCH reported last Wednesday that the Federal Executive Council approved a new National Language Policy in which the mother tongue would be used exclusively for the first six years of education after which it would be combined with the English language from Junior Secondary School 1.
The General Secretary of BSN, Pastor Samuel Sanusi, described the policy as a step in the right direction, saying it will help to preserve the nation’s languages and cultures.
His position was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Monday by the BSN’s Manager, Media and Public Relations, Benjamin Mordi.
The statement read, “There are over 500 languages in Nigeria, but many of them have gone into extinction because they were not in use.
“We have been an advocate of the use of our local languages both in the schools and at home; we are delighted the government has taken a position on this, making the mother tongue a compulsory medium of instruction for primary schools.
“As a people, we should be proud of our languages and cultures.”
On his part, the Coordinator, YWC, Alao Adedayo, in a statement on Monday, noted that the policy would help the country follow in the way of many developed nations.
He said, “This is time for us to celebrate because Nigeria now follows the ways of many developed nations.
“Using mother tongue for instructions at the early stage of children has helped many nations of the world to develop, and it is one of the obstacles facing our education sector in Nigeria as pupils taught with foreign languages grow to fall in love with foreign cultures and ideas, abandoning anything indigenous, including the love of their community and country.
“Here at the Yoruba World Centre, we are very sure the Federal Government and Nigerians shall reap bountifully from this new policy. This is why we are supporting the policy with all our resources, by bringing all stakeholders together to ensure we all give a helping hand that will facilitate an all-round success for the implementation of the policy.”
The Bible Society of Nigeria and the Yoruba World Centre have commended the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on the new education policy that the mother tongue should be a compulsory medium of instruction from Primary 1-6.
The PUNCH reported last Wednesday that the Federal Executive Council approved a new National Language Policy in which the mother tongue would be used exclusively for the first six years of education after which it would be combined with the English language from Junior Secondary School 1.
The General Secretary of BSN, Pastor Samuel Sanusi, described the policy as a step in the right direction, saying it will help to preserve the nation’s languages and cultures.
His position was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Monday by the BSN’s Manager, Media and Public Relations, Benjamin Mordi.
The statement read, “There are over 500 languages in Nigeria, but many of them have gone into extinction because they were not in use.
“We have been an advocate of the use of our local languages both in the schools and at home; we are delighted the government has taken a position on this, making the mother tongue a compulsory medium of instruction for primary schools.
“As a people, we should be proud of our languages and cultures.”
On his part, the Coordinator, YWC, Alao Adedayo, in a statement on Monday, noted that the policy would help the country follow in the way of many developed nations.
He said, “This is time for us to celebrate because Nigeria now follows the ways of many developed nations.
“Using mother tongue for instructions at the early stage of children has helped many nations of the world to develop, and it is one of the obstacles facing our education sector in Nigeria as pupils taught with foreign languages grow to fall in love with foreign cultures and ideas, abandoning anything indigenous, including the love of their community and country.
“Here at the Yoruba World Centre, we are very sure the Federal Government and Nigerians shall reap bountifully from this new policy. This is why we are supporting the policy with all our resources, by bringing all stakeholders together to ensure we all give a helping hand that will facilitate an all-round success for the implementation of the policy.”
