CHILD EDUCATION AND NIGERIAN LANGUAGES

Abstract

Language plays a vital role in the daily interaction and communication by human beings. The Nigerian government appreciates the importance of language as a means of promoting social interaction and national cohesion and preserving cultures. The National Policy on Education (NPE) states that “every child shall learn in the language of the immediate environment in the first three years while English language shall be taught as a school subject”. The Nigerian languages in written or oral form transmits cult from one generation to another. Mother tongue offers a plausible framework for preparing coming generations to become better adaptive and rich contributors in the intercultural world. Every child in Nigeria is mandated to learn the language of the immediate environment. Hence, every child is required to learn one of Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa. This is an encouraging policy statement by government in its efforts to ensure that Nigerian Languages are taught and learnt as second languages. This paper examines the importance of Nigerian languages in communication and the setbacks towards implementation of using the language in the class. Vital recommendations are given to improve the effective implementation of the languages in communication processes. These include that: the government should make it compulsory that students should include not less than two Nigerian Languages in their choice of courses in secondary school, government should recruit qualified teachers in Nigerian languages especially in the tertiary institutions, Nigerian Language teachers at all levels should be exposed to sensitization programmes like seminars, workshops and conferences to get acquainted with new trends in teaching and that Nigerian languages should be recognized as a means of communication from home by all parents.