Nigeria Reverts to English as Language of Instruction in Primary Schools

The federal government has officially cancelled the mother-tongue-based teaching policy introduced three years ago. Education Minister Tunji Alausa says the programme failed to produce positive academic results, especially in regions that adopted it heavily.

English will now return as the medium of instruction from pre-primary levels all the way to university.

Supporters of the reversal say Nigeria lacks the trained teachers and resources needed to teach in dozens of local languages. Others argue the decision came too early, saying the mother-tongue approach needed more time, funding, and proper implementation.

With over 10 million children out of school and declining exam performance, the debate continues: Should Nigeria prioritise indigenous language development or strengthen English for global competitiveness.