[lg policy] Before French becomes compulsory in Nigerian schools

Tue Feb 9 15:55:46 UTC 2016

 Before French becomes compulsory in Nigerian schools — February 9, 2016

French may likely become Nigeria’s second official language if the Federal
Government’s plan to make its teaching compulsory at all levels of
education in the country is faithfully implemented.  The Minister of State
for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka, who hinted at the plan while receiving
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Gaver, in his Abuja office, explained
that Nigerian students, from those in primary to tertiary institutions,
will henceforth study French as a compulsory subject.

According to Anwukah, the government is keen and motivated by the need to
actualize its dream of making French language the second language of
business in the country.

Apart from the fact that Nigeria is close to the French speaking West
African countries of Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Benin Republic, Togo, Guinea
and Ivory Coast, French is a veritable language of international diplomacy,
trade and commerce.  If we are to tap any knowledge written in French, we
will need a good grasp of the language.

In the emerging global village, the knowledge of only one international
language, in our own case, English, is no longer adequate to engage other
members of the global community effectively. For years, Nigerian
representatives at different regional and international fora have mostly
depended on language interpreters to communicate with participants from
French-speaking speaking countries.

It is also ironical that while some of the leaders and government
representatives of   neigbouring French-speaking West African countries
engage with us in English Language in most of our parleys, our own leaders
and representatives cannot communicate with them in French. This situation
suggests that there is a gap that needs to be filled in our education. Even
only a few Nigerian diplomats can effectively communicate in French.

Therefore, there is a need for a new paradigm shift in favour of the study
of French at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education in the
country. This shift will help to bridge the communication gap between us
and our neigbhours as well as the rest of the French-speaking world.

Before now, Nigeria had restricted the teaching of French in its public
schools to the secondary and tertiary levels. Even then, the study of the
language was optional from the senior secondary school level upwards.
University students were not required to take any course in French, and its
study was restricted to those majoring in the subject. The   number of
students who take French in the West African Senior School Certificate
Examination (WASSCE) is low. Even at tertiary level, only few students
major in French.

To kick off this linguistic re-engineering of our schools, the government
has flagged off a French Clinic Project in Federal Government Boys’
College, Apo, Abuja. The minister, at the occasion, explained that it will
improve the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills of Nigerian
students studying the language. He stressed that with these skills, our
French students will fare better in their examinations and in the world of
work.  Hopefully, the language clinic project will be replicated in the 104
Federal Government Colleges across the country.

We commend the government for coming up with this ambitious language
policy. One good side of the initiative is the idea to include primary
school pupils in the scheme. This will help to catch children at a very
young age when it is easier for them to learn new languages. It may,
however, be better to teach the language at the senior primary school
classes when they would have learnt the speaking and writing of English
Language.

Besides the challenge of saddling Nigerian pupils with the learning of so
many languages, (since some Nigerian languages are also taught at this
level), another problem that the government must surmount is the dearth of
qualified and experienced French teachers.

Despite this problem, the new policy is good and should be well
implemented. Let government embark on massive training of French language
teachers. The policy would boost the teaching of French and provide jobs
for French Language graduates in the country. Since this policy has been
adjudged worthwhile, the government can consider the recruitment of French
teachers from neigbouring French-speaking countries if there is a shortage
of French teachers in the country.

The engagement of such teachers will also likely improve the relationship
between us and these nearby countries, which we must admit, has not been at
the optimum. The government should also consider the extension of the
French Language Clinic to some state schools as well.

If the government wants this policy to succeed, the language must be taught
well enough to produce graduates who can speak and write it proficiently.
The cooperation of state and local governments is also important to ensure
the success of this project.

The mass media, print and electronic, should also key into the policy and
give  spaces for French programmes and articles to generate interest in the
language and point the way to its future in Nigeria. This compulsory French
Language policy is a good initiative that deserves to be properly
implemented.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/before-french-becomes-compulsory-in-nigerian-schools/

-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its
members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or
sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who
disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write
directly to the original sender of any offensive message.  A copy of this
may be forwarded to this list as well.  (H. Schiffman, Moderator)

For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to
https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/
listinfo/lgpolicy-list
*******************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lgpolicy-list/attachments/20160209/3957b501/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
This message came to you by way of the lgpolicy-list mailing list
lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu
To manage your subscription unsubscribe, or arrange digest format: https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/lgpolicy-list