Dr Charles Owu-Ewie, Dean of the Faculty of Language Education, University of Education, Winneba, has called for a national education dialogue on language policy.

This, he said, would promote teaching of literacy and language acquisition in both the local languages (L1) and English Language (L2).

Dr Owu-Ewie was speaking to Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday at the sideline of the launch of the Ghana Education Service Integrated Approach to Literacy Teachers’ Guides for kindergarten one to primary three.

He said an effective L1 is essential for the nation to have a firm foundation for literacy and the development of children.

He said research had shown that L1 would transfer into an effective L2, adding that a child needs to develop fully in the L1 before he/she could develop in the L2.

The Dean recounted that most students pursing education at the tertiary institutions did not learn the L1 at the senior high school (SHS) level, which makes the situation compounded.

He indicated that, if the teacher trainee is not well trained in the L1, it would have a very serious impact on the pupils they teach.

Dr Owu-Ewie said there is the need for L1 to be made a core subject at the SHS level so that students who would be pursuing education at the tertiary level would be well grounded to take off.