In a bold reversal of a major education policy, the Federal Government has scrapped the use of mother tongues as the language of instruction in Nigerian primary schools declaring English the official teaching language from primary to tertiary levels.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy shift on Wednesday in Abuja at the Language in Education International Conference 2025, organised by the British Council.
Alausa explained that the decision followed extensive research showing that pupils taught in local languages struggled to grasp foundational literacy and numeracy skills, which in turn led to poor performance in national examinations.
“Our data-driven studies revealed that the previous language policy disrupted learning outcomes,” the minister said. “Many pupils advanced through the system without mastering basic comprehension and problem-solving skills. That is why we are restoring English as the primary language of instruction.”
The now-cancelled 2022 National Language Policy had stipulated that children from early childhood to Primary Six be taught in their mother tongue or the language of their immediate environment. However, Alausa said the ambitious policy faced serious implementation challenges, given Nigeria’s linguistic diversity of over 500 languages.
“In some areas, teachers could not even agree on which ‘mother tongue’ to use,” he noted. “The idea sounded good on paper, but in practice, it created confusion and inconsistency across regions.”
Alausa maintained that the government’s new directive aims to create uniformity, improve learning outcomes, and better prepare Nigerian students for global competitiveness.
The announcement marks a dramatic shift in Nigeria’s education landscape — one that could reshape how millions of children learn and communicate in classrooms nationwide.
