The Ministry of Education has clarified the use of compulsory Ghanaian languages as the medium of instructions in basic education.

According to the ministry, local languages, or mother tongues, will be used only from Kindergarten to primary three, not throughout all basic school levels as some in the public had believed.

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The latest update was shared by Deputy Minister of Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, while speaking at a yet to be identified event, in a video posted by Citi FM on Facebook on Monday, October 27, 2025.

“The Honorable Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has asked me to clarify that the policy directive, he announced on Friday, regarding the compulsory use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction in our public basic schools is confined to Kindergarten (KG) up to primary 3. In other words, KG and lower primary,” he explained.

What the minister said:

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, had earlier directed the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to immediately enforce the compulsory use of Ghanaian languages (mother tongues) as the medium of instruction at the basic education level on October 24, 2025.

Iddrisu explained that the move is aimed at improving learning outcomes and comprehension among pupils at the foundational stage of education.

Speaking in the presence of the GES Director-General, the minister shared a personal anecdote to underscore the importance of the policy.

"Mr President, the story is told of a young girl whose teacher somewhere in the Ashanti Region went in and was waxing English, teaching at the early stages of development. Then the child told the teacher that, ‘3y3 a, ka Twi, kakra na mente ase3’ which translates to: 'Please speak a little Twi, because I don't understand'," he narrated.

Drawing on this example, Iddrisu formally mandated the new policy.

"So, Mr President, in line with that and with your authority, I’m directing the Director General of the Ghana Education Service and the GES, that from today; teacher use of mother tongue instruction is now compulsory in all our new schools," he declared.

Watch as education minister directs GES to make ‘mother-tongue’ instruction compulsory at basic level

He emphasised that the GES must ensure the strict enforcement of this directive, grounding the policy in the cultural identity of the students.

"The GES is to ensure strict enforcement of this because that child, that Ghanaian child, was not born into an English family, but a proud Asante Akan family and deserves to learn," he added.

Watch the video below:



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