Education Ministry Clarifies: Mother Tongue Instruction Limited to Lower Primary.

Education Ministry Clarifies: Mother Tongue Instruction Limited to Lower Primary.

The Ministry of Education has provided clarity on the recently announced directive regarding the compulsory use of Ghanaian languages as a medium of instruction in schools. According to the Ministry, the new language policy applies exclusively to Kindergarten through Primary Three pupils.

Deputy Minister of Education, Clement Apaak, made the clarification at the launch of the Foundational Learning Action Tracker on Monday, October 27.

“The Honorable Minister for Education has asked me to clarify that the policy directive he announced on Friday regarding the compulsory use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction in our public basic schools is confined, emphasis, confined to KG up to Primary 3. In other words, KG and Lower Primary. Having clarified what seems to have given a few persons sleepless nights, I bring you greetings,” he stated.

Earlier, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, while addressing participants at the launch of the Free Tertiary Education Program for Persons Living with Disabilities, emphasized that the directive aims to strengthen comprehension and improve learning outcomes among younger pupils.

“I am directing the DG of the GES and the GES that from today, teacher use of mother tongue instruction is now compulsory in all Ghanaian schools. The GES is to ensure strict enforcement of this…This is part of President Mahama’s reset agenda,” the Minister firmly declared.

In a related context, historian Nana Osei-Bonsu Sarfo-Kantanka, in 2023, urged school authorities to desist from punishing students who communicate in local languages. He argued that promoting the use of local dialects enhances students’ understanding of their cultural heritage.

He observed that several foreign countries prioritize their native languages and urged Ghana to take inspiration from them. Speaking to KMJ on Prime Morning, he said, “If you go to school, it is written ‘Speak English.’ If you spoke the local dialect, you would be spanked. All these things must be removed.”

“If you go to India, you have to learn Hindi to be able to study at the university. Why can’t we learn from them?” he questioned.

Although he acknowledged that English remains an important global language, Nana Osei-Bonsu suggested a balanced approach—combining English with local languages to preserve national identity. He warned that Ghanaian languages risk extinction if parents and schools fail to promote their daily use.

“Even if just twenty people are speaking the language, it should be encouraged at all levels. If we’re able to do that, gradually ours will take over the so-called international language. In our houses, parents should be serious and speak our local languages with their children,” he advised.

The historian also lamented the diminishing enthusiasm surrounding Ghana’s Independence celebrations, attributing the trend to the increasing incorporation of foreign influences in fashion and culture. He expressed concern that opinion leaders have not done enough to promote the consistent use of Ghanaian languages in schools.

When asked if the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah would have maintained Ghana’s linguistic and cultural identity if he were alive, he remarked, “Who knows that he would have kept doing what he was doing because politicians are dictated to.”

He, however, encouraged citizens to continue projecting the nation’s cultural heritage by wearing locally made attire, eating traditional dishes, and speaking indigenous languages—especially during the Independence Month celebrations in March.

Earlier this year, Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Frank Yeboah, also called for collective efforts to preserve Ghana’s indigenous languages. Speaking during the commemoration of the International Day of Mother Language in February, he reminded Ghanaians that language preservation is central to national identity and cultural continuity.

“Mr Speaker, we cannot afford to lose our indigenous languages, for in them lies the heart and soul of our identity as Ghanaians,” he stated. “Let us act now to protect and promote them, ensuring that future generations inherit not just the words, but the history, values, and wisdom they carry.”

He urged policymakers to integrate indigenous language education into the national curriculum and encouraged media houses to allocate more airtime to local-language programming. According to him, this will not only sustain linguistic diversity but also deepen cultural pride and understanding.

Mr. Yeboah concluded by appealing to all Ghanaians to value their native tongues, noting that language preservation extends beyond communication—it embodies the preservation of knowledge, values, and collective identity.