DISCOURSE ON THE STATUS OF NIGERIAN LANGUAGES IN BASIC ONE TO NINE

Abstract

This paper discusses the study of the Nigerian languages both in primary school and Junior Secondary School Levels. It reveals that a Nigerian language is not only to be taught as a subject, it is equally to be used as medium of instruction in the first three years in primary school. While the local language should only be taught as a subject from primary four to six and in three years of Junior Secondary School. The paper laments that the NPE (2013) is still at variance with the use of Nigerian languages as media of instruction throughout a child’s primary school education despite the enormous results from research works that support this laudable idea. (Fafunwa et al, 1989) Ramirez et al, 1991) (, Thomas et al, 1997 and 2002),-(Ogunremi, 2012). The paper suggests among things that the Ministries of Education both at the Federal and States should have effective monitoring divisions to enforce and monitor the implementation of the National Policy both at the public and private schools. The paper summits that using proficiency in a foreign language (English) in measuring the standard of education in Nigeria is not only quite misleading, it portrays that this country is still languishing in linguistic slavery which is worse than political slavery. Any man that loses his language loses his natural identity.