South-West geopolitical zone of Nigeria may soon approve the use of Yoruba language, their mother tongue, as the language of instruction at Primary schools in the region.
It has been revealed after the meeting on Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) held by South-West Governors in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on the evening of August 29, 2013, Thursday.
Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Governor of Ekiti State, has spoken on behalf of his colleagues, said a region-wide education summit would soon be hosted by Osun state, to look at a mechanism that would allow the region come up with a common curriculum for basic education.
According to Dr. Fayemi, the curriculum would place emphasis on the use of Yoruba as a language of instruction in basic schools across the region.
It could be recalled that the National Policy on Education (1976) had recommended that the mother tongue of pupils should be the language of instruction at the elementary education level.
A few weeks ago at a forum in held in Akure Dr. Fayemi stated that pupils can learn faster when taught in their first language, according to researchers.
Speaking further on the outcome of the meeting, the Governor of Ekiti State said the region was planning an alternative economic framework that will make the knowledge economy which the region is known for, serve as bulwark against the emerging reduction in the resource-based economy that the country currently has.
“What happens to us? We are being futuristic here. What happens to us as western Nigeria and we are concerned about Nigeria as a country? What happens to us when oil no longer flows or when oil sells for one dollar? Where would the resources come from? How do we harness the energy of our people, their creativity and innovation as scholars?” Dr. Fayemi said.
Other issues discussed at the meeting were the exploration of sports as a unifying vehicle for development in the region and homeland security framework to forestall any security challenges.
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