Mother tongue policy limited to KG to Primary 3 – Education Ministry clarifies
The Ministry of Education has offered a clarification, specifying that the use of Ghanaian languages as the medium of instruction is restricted to Kindergarten to Primary Three, and does not encompass all basic school levels.
School supplies This clarification is a response to a directive issued by the sector minister, Haruna Iddrisu, requiring the use of Ghanaian languages in schools, which has generated considerable public debate.
Deputy Education Minister Clement Apaak, speaking at the launch of the Foundational Learning Action Tracker on Monday, October 27, noted that the clarification was necessary to resolve the ongoing discussions.
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 specifically limited 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,” the deputy minister said.
Meanwhile a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast’s Department of Basic Education, Dr. Joyce Tawiah-Mensah, has urged the government to demonstrate strong political commitment to ensure the effective implementation of mother tongue instruction in Ghanaian schools.
Dr. Tawiah-Mensah reacted to the directive on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, October 27, by praising the initiative but underscoring that its success would depend on the government’s readiness to provide the necessary resources and teacher capacity.
“It’s something that we can accomplish, but we require political commitment in terms of teacher training, materials and others,” she recommended.
