[lg policy] Ghana: Govt Must Develop Language Policy To Help Teaching And Learning

[Harold Schiffman]

Govt Must Develop Language Policy To Help Teaching And Learning

The Government has been advised to develop a consistent language
policy to help in the teaching and learning of languages in the
country. There must also be a firm political decision to provide a
clear framework for the successful implementation of such a policy.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC),
Professor D.D. Kuupole who made the call said there were a lot of
inconsistencies in language policies in the country which had gone to
affect the study of languages in the country.
He was giving his inaugural lecture “From the Savannah to the Coastal
Lands in Search of Knowledge through the French Language: A Herd Boy’s
Tale” at the UCC.

He indicated that governments over the years had failed to provide a
clear focus for the teaching and learning of languages particularly
the French language in the country. He said what was disturbing was
that governments had always left “safety valves” to exonerate
themselves from policy failures while they did little to ensure that
such policies were successfully implemented.

He said the unavailability of a policy had led to low turnout of
language teachers especially French teachers at all levels of
education, which had consequently led to a reduction in the quality of
teaching. Prof. Kuupole said virtually all the educational reforms in
the country had failed to address the crucial need for a consistent
language policy for the country.

Prof. Kuupole said considering the country’s location, in the midst of
French-speaking countries, it was important to adopt a language policy
especially in the teaching and learning of French to help salvage the
teaching and learning of the subject.
The Vice Chancellor of UCC, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman said she
was optimistic that the construction of a language centre at the
university would promote the study of languages in the country and the
sub-region.

http://www.modernghana.com/news/387504/1/govt-must-develop-language-policy-to-help-teaching.html

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