Historically, at times when the language competence and performance of nigerian students improves in english, their performances in other disciplines have. Okoroma educational policies and problems of implementation in nigeria 247 a policy brings about a meaningful relationship between business objectives and organisational functions as it discourages deviations from planned courses of action. Oct 04, 2018 the need for the articulation of policy guidelines on standards, procedures, strategies and for the coordination of roles to ensure and sustain the delivery of qualitative education in nigeria was given impetus by the outcomes of the 1969 national curriculum conference. Educational policy in nigeria from the colonial era to the. There are convincing reasons to believe that issues related to language diversity and language policy in education have been one of the major factors responsible for poor student academic performance in the nigerian educational system. The current policy on education in nigeria the guide. Educational policies and problems of implementation in nigeria n. Nigeria s national policy on education, published in 1977 was revised in 1981 and 1990. Eric ej824107 language policy and planning in nigeria.
Formulation and implementation of educational policies in nigeria dayo odukoya, ph. Language policy for education and development in tanzania eleuthera sa swarthmore college abstract this paper examines language policy in tanzanian schools and its effect on education, equality and economic development. C the new 9year basic education curriculum by sunday n. The paper examines elements affecting language policy and planning, and their impact on education in africa, with a focus on nigeria.
The essays inlanguages in africaexplore the layers of african multilingualism as they affect language policy and education. Sunshine has a very impressive selection of good books, with a wide range of delightful selections of nigerian authors. They have also been the subject of formal public comment following their publication on 9 may 1997 government notice no. The country is also home to more than 520 languages, but there are many more languages which are yet to be classified. Pdf the future of french in nigerias language policies. This paper therefore tries to examine the language situation in nigeria, the need for the language policy that will address the national language question and the pedagogical relevance of such policy. There is no doubt that we have multiplicity of languages among different ethnic groups in nigeria with each group guarding its language jealously, yet there has not been a separate language policy, other than the bits and fragments in the national policy on education 1977 revised in 1981. Implications for pedagogy 282 of this population, it is assumed that 30 million are students. Plurilingualism in gongola state multilingualism, minority languages and language policy in nigeria agbor nigeria. The adverse effect of the lack of a robust language planning framework in the nations national policy on education is evident in the lack of support for literacy in indigenous languages, as only a handful of nigerian languages are operational in its education system. A policy ensures consistency of action because an organisation is governed by approved principles. National open university of nigeria course materials textbooks lagos yoruba language law national policy on education npe stipulates that can i still continue with this cgp or do i give up on. The other order i placed came just a few days later. The impact of globalization or civilization on education has taken different forms and shapes in different context.
Cross river state educational experience the politics of language is a very sensitive issue in nigeria as language can hardly be detached from the apron strings of the peoples senses of identity and loyalty. Reflections on linguistic interference and the impact of language policy and politics on minority languages emmanuel aito university of regina introduction known for its extreme linguistic diversity elugbe 1994, nigeria is home to languages. Today, arabic language is to be considered as an endangered specie of language in nigeria considering the language policy as found in the national policy of education where the status of. The present study aims at analyzing the role of language planning and policy in precolonial nigeria as well as the colonial and postcolonial periods and the resultant effects to the development and decline of arabic language in nigeria. The need for a national lingual franca that indexes the national identity of nigeria is one that has been theorized and debated through different lenses under language policy with the conflicting themes being the asymmetric relationship between an. Implementing the national language policy in nigerian. They are divided into a complex nexus of interrelated clans. Spring 2011 volume 9 issue 2 posted on 20110616 11. Nov 22, 2017 nigerian army introduces new language policy for personnel. A discussion of nigeria s national language policy looks at the official structure for language instruction, its rationale, and perceived problems and possibilities.
If you dont see any interesting for you, use our search form on bottom v. It is my hope that, beginning with the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, and now with the publication of the world report on disability, this century. Download citation ris format text format endnote format publication id fr359. Issn 22221735 paper issn 2222288x onlinevol 3, no 10, 2012 language policy, mothertongue education and the role of the nigerian language teacher in nigerian language education b. Okoroma rivers state university of science and technology nigeria the poor performance of the education sector in nigeria has become very worrisome. Language teaching and language policy in nigeria by david. Contrary to the long held postulation that it was the objective of the colonial government to promote english language in the colony, the colonial. The policy document has been revised to ensure that the policies address the perceived needs of the government in power and to try to ensure that the education sector is supportive of government development goals. Language policy and educational development in africa.
Language policy is the plan of course of action of a dynamic programme in directing language affairs as needed by government. The book shows that issues related to language diversity and language policy in education have been one of the major factors responsible for poor student academic performance in. As reported in 2003, nigerian english and nigerian pidgin were spoken as a second language by 60 million people in nigeria. This paper argues from a different trajectory of diaglossic language policy such that gives functional roles to both. The language in education policy documents which follow have been the subject of discussions and debate with a wide range of education stakeholders and roleplayers.
Formulation and implementation of educational policies in nigeria 1. This paper argues for a multilingual language policy that takes into account the different tiers of languages in nigeria, particularly, languages with lesser number of speakers than the major languages. Pdf the new basic education curriculum in nigeria power. Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under god, dedicated to the promotion of interafrican solidarity, world peace, international cooperation and understanding.
The official language of nigeria, english, was chosen to facilitate the cultural and linguistic unity of the country postcolonization by the british. Communication in the english language is much more popular in the countrys urban communities than it is in the rural areas. Language policy for education and development in tanzania. Institute of political studies, faculty of political studies, charles university in prague, czech republic. It is what a government does either officially through legislation, court decisions, or policy to determine how languages are. Educational policy in nigeria hauwa imam educational policy in nigeria from the colonial era to the postindependence period hauwa imam1 abstract. There is no doubt that we have multiplicity of languages among different ethnic groups in nigeria with each group guarding its language jealously, yet there has not been a separate language policy, rather the bits and fragments in the national policy on education 1977 revised in 1981. Formulation and implementation of educational policies in. Prospect for national unity dare williams omotoyinbo1a abstract various studies on the national policy on education npe have concentrated on the cognitive value of pedagogy and learning of the language aspect but few have viewed its importance on the togetherness of the nation nigeria. A close examination of post independence language in education policies shows these fluctuating policies have moved from one form of bilingual education policy. The policy requires that the mother tongue or language of the immediate community be the medium of instruction at preprimary and early primary levels, with english emerging as medium of instruction halfway through primary education. Mothertongue interference on english language pronunciation.
Language policy, mothertongue education and the role of the nigerian language teacher in nigerian language education 1. Research question this study drawn on the following research questions to contribute to the international literature on why educational policies fail in nigeria. Two main modern pronouncements on language policy in nigeria merit our attention, to wit the national policy on education 1977, revised in 1981, and the 1979 constitution, which is more cited than its 1989 reincarnation. Language policy and planning for education in cameroon and. The major native languages spoken in nigeria represent three major families of african languages the majority are nigercongo languages, such as yoruba, ibo, the hausa language is afroasiatic. Language policy, mothertongue education and the role of.
The country provides free, governmentsupported education. The present electronic is a revised and updated edition of an index of nigerian languages by david crozier and roger blench 1992, which replaced keir hansford, john bendorsamuel and ron stanford 1976, a pioneering attempt to synthesise what was known at the time about the languages of nigeria and their classification. Central books ltd and the linguistic association of nigeria the need for oral. Educational language policy in nigeria is a very simple and easy to understand work that will facilitate some learning about issues of language in nigeria and environ. The colonial language policy in kenya is important putting into consideration that it impacted greatly on postcolonial language policy. In nigeria there is no explicit and comprehensive national language policy but the documents for language planning are found in the 1979 and 1999 constitutions and the national policy on education of 1981 which was revised in 1998 to accommodate french as one of nigerias official languages. French is the widest spoken language in nigerianigeria. Ruth adebile introduction the goals and overall philosophy of education in any nation is the prerequisite to the formation of language policy and planning for education. This paper examines nigeria s language policies in terms of i the historical, sociolinguistic, political, educational, and ideological contexts in which they arose. Nairaland forum nairaland general education download national policy on education 6th edition 20 31842 views free download. Is the educational policy faulty or is it the implementation that is faulty. Two policies are announced herewith, namely, the language in education policy in terms of section 34m of the national education policy act, 1996 act 27 of 1996, and the norms and standards regarding language policy published in terms of section 61 of the south african schools act, 1996. Nigeria is a multilingual nation with over 520 languages being spoken in the country. He said that the language policy was newlyintroduced as the study of foreign and local languages was a.
Tunde aina i ordered one of the books on a friday morning and had it in hand on monday afternoon. Language policy and planning for education in cameroon and nigeria. Language policy and minority language education in nigeria. In july 2001, the council submitted its advice to the minister in a report entitled language policy framework for south african higher education. Introduction purpose of the guide this guide is intended to support first nations communities, governments, schools and language authorities across british columbia in the implementation of language policies and programs that lead to. Nov 26, 2015 on this page you can read or download download civic education text book nigeria pdf in pdf format. Zarruk, rabiu a discussion of nigerias national language policy looks at the official structure for language instruction, its rationale, and perceived problems and possibilities.
Policy implementation and its challenges in nigeria. In nigeria, language policy on education dates back to the colonial era when in 1927 the british advisory committee on native education in tropical africa recommended that indigenous languages should serve as medium of instruction in the lower years of primary education musa r. Reexamining the fluctuations in language ineducation. National policy on education, 20 download full version. In recent years there has been renewed interest in the study of languages in nigeria. Language teaching and language policy in nigeria request pdf. This article examines the role of english in nigeria as a medium of. Policy implementation and its challenges in nigeria effiong, a. The core section of the monograph investigates language policy and planning, with an emphasis on the mother tongue medium or first language policy and the multilingual policy.
Nigerian army introduces new language policy for personnel. A close examination of post independence language in education policies shows these fluctuating policies have moved from one form of bilingual education policy to another. An international language like french or english, a vestige of colonialism, carries prestige, is used in higher education, and promises mobilityand yet it will not be well known by its users. I begin with an overview of language policy from colonization to the present, mapping out the relative. Many tensions and paradoxes that arise from bilingual education policies in multiethnic. It will thus be an invaluable tool for policy makers, researchers, practitioners, advocates and volunteers involved in disability.
Even where there is a formal written language policy, its effect on language practices is neither guaranteed nor consistent. This followed the decision of cabinet in 1999 to prioritise the development of a language framework for higher education. The official language of nigeria is english, the former language of colonial british nigeria. In the context of nigeria, it has resulted in a complete overhaul of the education system and especially on the language in education policy. Toward the development of a multilingual language policy in. Ube policy implementation, this paper uniquely seeks to investigate the question of why educational policies regularly fail especially, in the west africa nation of nigeria. These factors, among others, include the ineffective and corrupt political leadership under which the public bureaucracy in nigeria thrives, the pervasive and deep rooted corruption within the public. 235259 may 2008 with 2,332 reads how we measure reads.
Nigeria survey nigeria dhs, 2018 language english recommended citation national population commission npc nigeria and icf. The army has given its personnel one year to learn and be proficient in the three major nigerian languages yoruba, igbo and hausa. Educational policies and problems of implementation in nigeria. There is a widened western educational gap between the north and south of nigeria with the predominantly muslim areas of. Language in education policy in ghana has been in a flux since british colonial rule but particularly so after independence. Nigeria is the most populous country in africa with over 186 million residents.
The future of french in nigeria s language policies article pdf available in journal of multilingual and multicultural development 293. Nigeria is linguistically diverse with over 250 ethnic groups and over 500 languages. Implementing the national language policy in nigerian schools. The fourth discusses language maintenance and language shift in nigeria with respect to the indigenous languages and english, the exoglossic language.