In a major policy reversal, the Federal Government has scrapped the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in Nigerian schools, reinstating English as the primary language of teaching and learning from pre-primary to tertiary levels.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa during the 2025 Language in Education International Conference, organised by the British Council in Abuja.
According to Alausa, the reversal was approved at the 69th meeting of the National Council on Education, NCE, held in Akure, Ondo State, between November 3 and 7.
A national performance review, the minister explained, revealed that pupils taught mainly in local languages recorded higher failure rates in national examinations and demonstrated weaker English proficiency, a key skill for academic and professional advancement.
Alausa further invited scholars and stakeholders with contrary evidence to present verifiable data, assuring that the government remains open to dialogue based on research and measurable outcomes.
