NINLAN Abia State seeks Support to Teach Science in Local Languages
In a bid to simplify learning, the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba, Abia State, has called on the Federal Government to support its efforts in producing graduate teachers that can teach science subjects in local languages.
This is also, as the Institute has appealed for its inclusion even among tertiary institutions benefiting from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The Executive Director of the Institute, Prof. Obiajulu Emejulu, made the appeal when he received the Chairman of the Education Thematic Committee of TETFund and the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi in Aba.
The President was accompanied to NINLAN by other academics, including a former Vice – Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof. Chigozie Aziagbaka; President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Prof. Francis Egbokhare; and Technical Director of the TETFund Committee, Dr. Andy Iheme.
NINLAN Executive Director revealed to the team that the institute’s mandate was as important as achieving Nigeria’s academic, technological and economic dreams.
“The institute is in the process of training students who will graduate to be teachers of sciences using their mother tongue,” Emejulu said.
He, however, encouraged the delegation to recommend NINLAN to be mainstreamed in TETFund, adding that it would greatly boost the institute’s contribution to national development – including the completion of various researches.
Also addressing, the Deputy Executive Director of NINLAN, Prof. Solomon Oyetade, said teaching in local languages would promote learning.
“It is possible to teach the sciences in indigenous languages, and that makes for easier understanding by students and pupils. It is better to teach pupils in their mother tongue than in a learned, foreign language,” he said as he gave the Asian Tigers as instances.
He noted that a former Minister of Education, the late Prof. Babatunde Aliyu Fafunwa, had proven in the 80s in Ife that this was also possible.
Reacting, the team leader, Prof. Ogunyemi, acknowledged NINLAN’s request. Hence, urgiing the executive director to send the necessary formal proposal to the relevant offices.
