Importantly, in this age of rapid urbanisation and civilisation forcing many to embrace foreign cultures, it is high time as a country we start embracing our own national languages into the country’s education system.
Teaching our children the national language, especially those at the foundation stage, would help them follow lessons at schools during their early years of learning.
This would ensure quality results, thus guaranteeing meaningful results.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) is in the process of implementing the recently validated Language in Education Policy which involves the use of national languages in teaching literacy and as medium of instruction from Early Child Development to grade three.
This was revealed at a recent presser held at the Regional Education Directorate in Kanifing.
Obviously, it is important for children to receive instruction in their own language especially in their foundational learning process.
Through this, children would be able to best express their thoughts, feelings and ideas. This in turn helps serve as a bridge and to reinforce the appreciation and prestige in one’s native language.
Therefore, learning one's mother tongue is just a right move, but one that is long overdue in preserving our heritage.
Research has shown that teaching children in their native languages helps not only in shaping children’s minds, but also play a crucial role in better connecting them to heritage.
As rightly stated by the programme coordinator at MoBSE, leveraging national languages as medium of instruction at foundational levels enhances learning outcomes, fosters cultural pride and fortifies national unity. Of course English would be taught as a subject.
In fact the focus is on early graders as it is during those formative ages that children need support to better comprehend and express their thoughts and even connect better in their learning environment.
To this end, we commend MoBSE and their partners for conceiving such an important project designed to ensure quality in education.
Globally, many countries are integrating their native languages in their teaching syllabi as it doesn’t only help children to relate to their environment but also a sense of pride.
Therefore, we call on the government to support the Ministry and partners in the full implementation of this project. Together, we can make it a reality.