Learning in mother tongue won’t lower pupils’ English - GES

Read Article

Comments (36)

This article is closed for comments.

Read Comments Comments (36)

The supreme Night fighter 6 years ago

Those saying teaching kids with thier mother tongue are not serious, look at the number of items you have in your home almost all of them came from China, who told you Chinese speaks English better than Ghanaians, bro if you ...
read full comment

Those saying teaching kids with thier mother tongue are not serious, look at the number of items you have in your home almost all of them came from China, who told you Chinese speaks English better than Ghanaians, bro if you have no vision you can be the best English writer yet you will achieve nothing, English is just a language if you want a clear example of what I am saying you do your research, Goto either Volta or Northern region where English is predominantly used and check thier way of life, they are all most all poor yet they have PhD and thing's, Now come to the South Ashanti to be precise where English Language is rarely spoke and see they own almost all the business in Ghana, just be proud of your heritage and think about something else later, the white man will never respect because of your English and you will never become a good inventor or Engineer because of your English
Frank Agyena-Karikari 6 years ago

In Southern Ghana, most of the teachers speak twi but go to Tamale and see how many dialects they have. Which one should be used then? Why didn't you write in your mother's tongue?
Parts of Volta and Northern regions are poo ...
read full comment

In Southern Ghana, most of the teachers speak twi but go to Tamale and see how many dialects they have. Which one should be used then? Why didn't you write in your mother's tongue?
Parts of Volta and Northern regions are poor not because of language but hostile geographical environment. Do you know how often it rains in parts of Northern Ghana and Volta region? Compare that to Ashanti, Eastern and Brong Ahafo region. That is why these southern regions can have all year farming. Do they have it like that in the North and Coastal plains?
WONTUMI 6 years ago

Seriously? Asantes are rich because we speak Twi?

Greed, avarice, "persemikunya", and ostentation are what drive the Ashanti.

The western region is the richest region in Ghana and they don't speak Twi.

Just go th ...
read full comment

Seriously? Asantes are rich because we speak Twi?

Greed, avarice, "persemikunya", and ostentation are what drive the Ashanti.

The western region is the richest region in Ghana and they don't speak Twi.

Just go through the kind of english the twerp wrote and you'll understand why he wants to be taught in Twi and be examined in Twi.
C.Y. ANDY-K 6 years ago

What another ignorant bigot spewing nonsense? What about the fact that the Asante Kingdom, with their allies, used to plunder slaves, ivory and devastate parts of the VR and northern Ghana for centuries until the Sagrenti War ...
read full comment

What another ignorant bigot spewing nonsense? What about the fact that the Asante Kingdom, with their allies, used to plunder slaves, ivory and devastate parts of the VR and northern Ghana for centuries until the Sagrenti War put a stop to it as a more cogent explanatory variable for why those areas are still poor today?

In a multi-lingual like Ghana, it is simply impossible to implement such a policy in large sections of Ghana. What is happening now is imposition of Twi on non-Akan pupils in some schools in even Accra-Tema. Is Twi their mother tongue?

It was high time the GES and Min of Education are taken to court by concerned parents.

Andy-K
ST. GHFUO, is this the best you can d 6 years ago

TEACH THE KIDS IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE FINAL EXAMS. IF THE FINAL EXAMS WILL BE WRITTEN AND ASKED IN THEIR MOTHER TONGUE THEN TEACH THE THAT. I DOUBT MATH AND ENGLISH QUESTIONS ON THEIR FINAL WILL BE ASKED IN TWI OR EWE SO PLS ...
read full comment

TEACH THE KIDS IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE FINAL EXAMS. IF THE FINAL EXAMS WILL BE WRITTEN AND ASKED IN THEIR MOTHER TONGUE THEN TEACH THE THAT. I DOUBT MATH AND ENGLISH QUESTIONS ON THEIR FINAL WILL BE ASKED IN TWI OR EWE SO PLS DONT TEACH THEM OR INSTRUCT THEM IN THESE LANGUAGES. IF U D N THEY DONT SEE THEIR MOTHER TONGUE ON THESE FINALS THEN WHAT DO U THINK THEY WILL DO? LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE IN FRENCH R ENGLISH
AGOLOSHI 6 years ago

u are not serious...

u are not serious...
Frank Agyena-Karikari 6 years ago

These are no educationists. People in Ejura, Atebbubu, Kumasi, Accra, Tema, Tamale,Bolga, Wa and many other places will study in what mother languages? How many parent languages are used here? Students in their formative live ...
read full comment

These are no educationists. People in Ejura, Atebbubu, Kumasi, Accra, Tema, Tamale,Bolga, Wa and many other places will study in what mother languages? How many parent languages are used here? Students in their formative lives need to use both English and their mother tongue at school.
After this he is going home and communicate with his kids in English.
Go to Atebubu, Accra and Kumasi and find out how many mother languages they have and tell which one to use. And do the teachers understand the mother languages of their students?
Sankofa 6 years ago

Do the teachers and students even understand English?

English is a foreign language imposed on us by a pure accident of history. The majority of our people do not speak it, and those of us who do just do not speak it well. ...
read full comment

Do the teachers and students even understand English?

English is a foreign language imposed on us by a pure accident of history. The majority of our people do not speak it, and those of us who do just do not speak it well.

Why are we so keen on learning a foreign language when we are not literate in our own indigenous languages?

The indigenous language policy aims to teach children in a language with which they are already familiar to enable them acquire language skills. These skills are easily transferable to other languages they may learn later.

Let us stop hankering after a foreign language and appreciate the richness of our own languages.
Frank Agyena-Karikari 6 years ago

When I had to teach at Tamale, I was lucky I taught at the Sixth Form. I could not speak any local language because I grew up in the South. What about those from the South who did not speak any local language but had to teach ...
read full comment

When I had to teach at Tamale, I was lucky I taught at the Sixth Form. I could not speak any local language because I grew up in the South. What about those from the South who did not speak any local language but had to teach Primary two? If children should be taught in their mother tongue, how many Gas are teachers? However, many Ewes can teach Ga kids?
Also note that teaching has changed. It is now child centered. Are our computer languages written in our mother tongues? It means kids will be in 4th grade before they can use the computer. How far behind will they be in computer studies? It is better to blend both English and the local language. Ask those who advocate for teaching kids in their mother tongue how many even speak English with their kids at home.
sasraku 6 years ago

Mr Sankofa, what is mother tongue? Ghana has over 50 local dialects and in any randomly chosen classroom, you are bound to have children from homes with at least 4 different mother tongues, So with what language should the te ...
read full comment

Mr Sankofa, what is mother tongue? Ghana has over 50 local dialects and in any randomly chosen classroom, you are bound to have children from homes with at least 4 different mother tongues, So with what language should the teacher use to teach?
In the urban areas the situation is worse. Here in Accra what language should be used? Is it Twi, Ga, Ewe, Nzema, Dagbani or what?
If we had one local national language like how the East Africans have Swahili, then fine. But till then forget.
The way I see how we Ghanaians think, adopting one of our local languages to be the national language is not going to happen. We are too tribalistic. and wont that also defeat the mother tongue concepttoo?
AJ 6 years ago

Dude, East Africans made a sacrifice to embrace one common language called Swahili. East Africans also have different languages yet they took bold initiative to embrace change but we Ghanaians our heart are full of hate,jealo ...
read full comment

Dude, East Africans made a sacrifice to embrace one common language called Swahili. East Africans also have different languages yet they took bold initiative to embrace change but we Ghanaians our heart are full of hate,jealousy even among Christians, pastors, Muslims,mallams.from the north to South there's No where you would not hear twi language spoken yet we'll pretend doesn't happen? No wonder we have PhD's,Dr, engineers mention what have you and yet Chinese are constructing our roads,air ports,hospitals I rest my case ???
Sankofa 6 years ago

Your Mother tongue is the language you learn to speak as a child at home. It is the language your parents speak which you also pick up.

The fact that we have a plethora of languages is a testimony to our rich socio-lingui ...
read full comment

Your Mother tongue is the language you learn to speak as a child at home. It is the language your parents speak which you also pick up.

The fact that we have a plethora of languages is a testimony to our rich socio-linguistic diversity. It is absolutely no excuse to use English as a medium of instruction. If children can learn English, why can they not learn any of our indigenous languages? In fact, the reality is that many Ghanaians are multi-lingual, speaking at least two Ghanaian languages.

Away with the socio-linguistic imperialism of English and the British!! We need to use our indigenous languages as medium of instruction for our children, and adopt one of our indigenous languages as our official language.
AJ 6 years ago

Sankofa kudos,the more you're trying to open their eyes to see what's in the future. Because most of them lack exposure despite their theoretical education background they won't understand you?I've read through must of the co ...
read full comment

Sankofa kudos,the more you're trying to open their eyes to see what's in the future. Because most of them lack exposure despite their theoretical education background they won't understand you?I've read through must of the comments and it's sad the way Africans hate sacrifice to achieve something great for their own future, the moment they hear mother tongue for the nation.many of them jump out to attack Ashantes as it's only Ashanti tribe who speak the twi language whereas all the Akan tribes speak twi , we have Akwapim twi, Fanti twi,Ashanti twi, Kwahu twi, Bono twi, Akwamu twi,Dankyira twi, Asin twi, wassa,Nzima twi and so on.And our present population of 27 million people shows that almost 20 million are of the Akan tribes. The sad aspects of it is that those commenting here right now either listen to twi music, watch twi movies, speak twi every day in their conversation one way or the other from mornings till don.Ghanaians think they are only nation colonized by the British, the Chinese, Indians were all colonized by British yet these two countries have come out with a master plan that the only way to up lift themselves from poverty is to use one of their local dialect which is commonly spoken among themselves to be used as their major lingua and english becomes the second language. The China choose madarine,India choose ardu and both countries have make a great change even the so called USA,British go to them to borrow money? Ghanaians stop hating,jealousy and make up your minds for a great sacrifice for our own progress period??????
Sankofa 6 years ago

The policy of teaching children in their mother tongue for the first three years is necessary to give children a solid grounding in language skills in a language with which they are familiar.

It also enables them to become ...
read full comment

The policy of teaching children in their mother tongue for the first three years is necessary to give children a solid grounding in language skills in a language with which they are familiar.

It also enables them to become literate in their own mother tongue. These language skills are easily transferable to other languages they may learn later.

English is a foreign language imposed on us by colonialists through an accident of history. We are allowing it to destroy our indigenous languages. We cannot break away from our colonised mind-set until we break away from the shackles of English. This socio-lingo-cultural imperialism is holding back our progress as a people.

We must promote literacy in our indigenous languages and help our children appreciate their richness. We can still learn English as a foreign language to facilitate communication with English-speaking foreigners.

Language is the prime means of communication. It embodies a people's philosophy,ethos,culture,traditions, values, world-view and thought. A foreign language can never be a substitute for one's indigenous language.
Villager 6 years ago

No one doubts the GES policy of teaching in the local language in the first three years. But with our official language being English I will refer to you compare students from Ashanti schools with the rest of the country.
Y ...
read full comment

No one doubts the GES policy of teaching in the local language in the first three years. But with our official language being English I will refer to you compare students from Ashanti schools with the rest of the country.
You see that most of our comdeians cannot perform outside Southern Ghana while their Nigerian and Eest African counterparts are marketable thoughout Africa
Koby 6 years ago

when whites are talking about innovation science and technology you are talking about comedians that why africa will remain the way it is how many Chinese. malaysian comedian you know but they are getting rich shit even Ger ...
read full comment

when whites are talking about innovation science and technology you are talking about comedians that why africa will remain the way it is how many Chinese. malaysian comedian you know but they are getting rich shit even Germans that have good tech don't have good movies that Britain and France but the beat them at every economical index african americans have bestablished comedians best music but on to America they are at the buttom the Nederlands is smaller than ashanti Kingdom but they are far far better than all West Africa economy combine and they are just 17 million and mind you every body can speak English real english not pidgin far better than any african country better shit isreal have a population of 8 million with land mass of volta region with only 60 percent of their population speaking Hebrews that is far lesser than people speaking twi in ghana and they are the only country that is speaking the language and the langauge before is was founded but they were not lazy like we nights we will always be slaves in our own country the Chinese don't speak english but the.know where our bauxite and gold are. let us keep sleeping in couple of years we will be speaking mandarin and we will say we are enlightened not knowing in the 60'same and 70'see we were better economically that the Chinese and south Koreans
Coonier MeChaie 6 years ago

Go to countries where the local language is used as a mode of instructions and you will see the difference.

Go to countries where the local language is used as a mode of instructions and you will see the difference.
Tablet Nana 6 years ago

this is nana tablet and i inherte the powers an old woman. i was use to help her in terms of household thngs and acomping her to farm not knowing that she was soo powerful.so she gave the powers that ishould be usind it help ...
read full comment

this is nana tablet and i inherte the powers an old woman. i was use to help her in terms of household thngs and acomping her to farm not knowing that she was soo powerful.so she gave the powers that ishould be usind it help people but not harm... now am work in Ghana gushegu northern region , so those who requested to come are now ready to come, u can or call me now (0557301192) or 0266101321,for help like,
1.Schooling
2.Riches
3.Instant money
4.business improvement
5.Child birth
6.Lotto numbers
7.Scam powers
8.protection
9.marriage problem 10.for travel to abroad 11.promise and fail 12.if someone collect your money and at the end he or she refuse to pay you back you contact tablet nana and it shall be well
Your Comment:
Subject:
Atta 6 years ago

What about those who come from areas where their native language is not a written one? This policy is pinned in the assumption that we all speak native languages that are written. GET needs to do more pilots unless they ass ...
read full comment

What about those who come from areas where their native language is not a written one? This policy is pinned in the assumption that we all speak native languages that are written. GET needs to do more pilots unless they assume everyone speaks the five major languages. Which however is not true.
No nonsense ! 6 years ago

Please stop preaching this nonsense.
YYou want to destroy the ability of these students to compete globally.

Please stop preaching this nonsense.
YYou want to destroy the ability of these students to compete globally.
Mankind 6 years ago

Ho! Hooo! I have been fortunate to live in Europe and USA. In all Europe every country use their major dialet or language as a medium of instruction in schools, and also as a second or third official language. I am talking he ...
read full comment

Ho! Hooo! I have been fortunate to live in Europe and USA. In all Europe every country use their major dialet or language as a medium of instruction in schools, and also as a second or third official language. I am talking here of Belgium, Luxembourg, USA in California (English & Spanish)I am a teacher here in California, the Spanish kids learn and understand stuff better. They later on, are able to immerse it into English.
I tell you guys, it is better to learn things in your own language first!!!
Ghana will be way better of. When India started using their own language in school, within 10 years they became a nuclea power!! Learning in your own language gives better understaning. One will not be taking too many notes in class!! The white boys and girls hardly write a lot of notes!! They understand things first hand. It is like your grand mother telling you "Ananse story" in Twi, Ga, Ewe etc. you never forget it!
It is a great thing to learn everything in your native language to the university level. The english all African speak is a mockery of our race. Everyone has an accent without any exception!! No one should pride himself/herself as a master of english language. I am just sorry for all of us. It is pitiful guys...
Akonta 6 years ago

Learn English at school and the mother tongue at home, period!

Learn English at school and the mother tongue at home, period!
Nana Powers (+233265882533) 6 years ago

Good news for those who are ready for help I'm a spiritual man of god's who helps people to find life easier to people,Protection and more blessings, Am sure and I promise everyone who needs my help will never regret in their ...
read full comment

Good news for those who are ready for help I'm a spiritual man of god's who helps people to find life easier to people,Protection and more blessings, Am sure and I promise everyone who needs my help will never regret in their life,I help people like plenty and to get good job,lotto number,instant money, marriage problem and many more.You can call me whatsapp me on +233265882533.no condition of permanent,and every long journey has to begins somewhere,and very long journey mass end somewhere I wish everyone .To come and ended your bad journey here
Dd 6 years ago

Choose out of the numerous languages we have one to be a national language

Choose out of the numerous languages we have one to be a national language
Akombono 6 years ago

That TWI is the lingua franca is an indisputable fact but politicians are afraid to moot for its adoption. Fact is if you want your message to get across anywhere in Ghana, if it's not in TWI, forget it. Take e.g KUMKUM BAGYA ...
read full comment

That TWI is the lingua franca is an indisputable fact but politicians are afraid to moot for its adoption. Fact is if you want your message to get across anywhere in Ghana, if it's not in TWI, forget it. Take e.g KUMKUM BAGYA and the TELENOVELAS, render them in EWE, DAGBANI Or DAGAARE and nobody , including Ewes and Dagaabas ,will patronise your TV station .Even our non-Akan politicians speak TWI in their own backyard. Let's hold the bull by the horns and consider TWI as Basic Language for the Ghanaian child but support it with its own not so popular native language.
Stone 6 years ago

I will not let my child have that kind of education. They will go to private school and speak English for me. Children spend most time with their parents at home and speak local language, the few hours that they spend at scho ...
read full comment

I will not let my child have that kind of education. They will go to private school and speak English for me. Children spend most time with their parents at home and speak local language, the few hours that they spend at school too, they should speak local language? When are they going to learn English that they will use to write about 99% of their exams? I can ask so many questions but for time and space. My children will speak English ok. I know why.
Charles Mensah 6 years ago

Come to S.Africa and see what mother tongue is doing to students. Students can't speak English even though exams are conducted in English. As a result, the govt of S.A is lowering the pass mark. It's 30% and recently, Maths w ...
read full comment

Come to S.Africa and see what mother tongue is doing to students. Students can't speak English even though exams are conducted in English. As a result, the govt of S.A is lowering the pass mark. It's 30% and recently, Maths was lowered to 20%. Children are naturally good at learning new languages. English is a global language. Education is the only good thing we have left. We all have to go through it the hard way.
Aduseeeee 6 years ago

If so, then I think in testing them we should also use their mother tongue.

If so, then I think in testing them we should also use their mother tongue.
Jonas Amemasor 6 years ago

I am sure the people pushing this "local" language agenda send their wards to public basics schools. And stop the comparison to countries like China, Japan etc. They do not have a bunch of about 28 local languages they have o ...
read full comment

I am sure the people pushing this "local" language agenda send their wards to public basics schools. And stop the comparison to countries like China, Japan etc. They do not have a bunch of about 28 local languages they have one.
Mr Eagles 6 years ago

Thanks you very much for such clarification, It only stupid leader in Africa especially Ghana does discourage the use of local languages in teaching.
Warning :
What people need to know is unless we start using our own lang ...
read full comment

Thanks you very much for such clarification, It only stupid leader in Africa especially Ghana does discourage the use of local languages in teaching.
Warning :
What people need to know is unless we start using our own languages in schools African cannot see any good thing.
Example, Japan, S.Korea, N.Korea etc; doesn't uses any foreign language but their developed.
It time that Ghanaians should be proud of their lcoal languages, we should make it attractive for foreigners to come and study as well.
Taabea 6 years ago

That's great.Let's use TWI rather because its the most spoken language in Ghana. Let's consider our national capital Accra as an example, Accra is not Akan city but twi is most spoken there,it is spoken on almost all the radi ...
read full comment

That's great.Let's use TWI rather because its the most spoken language in Ghana. Let's consider our national capital Accra as an example, Accra is not Akan city but twi is most spoken there,it is spoken on almost all the radio and TV stations in Accra and Tema. Most of the companies in Ghana want their advertisements to made in twi .During the 2016 campaign trail John delivered his address in twi in some parts of tamale. In Hohoe which is in Volta region, both Mahama and Nana delivered their message in twi.So why not use TWi rather as the national language?
Olokodzoko 6 years ago

I am highly disappointed in he who said teaching in local language is not good, I reserve my comment

I am highly disappointed in he who said teaching in local language is not good, I reserve my comment
Twaddle 6 years ago

Or DNA? How about fertilizer? How about fuel injector? Those pushing for local language to be used in teaching should first create a dictionary and translate the words from English to the local language before they start on t ...
read full comment

Or DNA? How about fertilizer? How about fuel injector? Those pushing for local language to be used in teaching should first create a dictionary and translate the words from English to the local language before they start on this path. I will like to hear the TWI word for alliteration and lallation else they should shut up about this boneheaded approach.
Sankofa 6 years ago

You do not need words for all those concepts you have mentioned in order to use our indigenous languages as our official language and to use them as medium of instruction in our schools.

We can embrace concepts by describi ...
read full comment

You do not need words for all those concepts you have mentioned in order to use our indigenous languages as our official language and to use them as medium of instruction in our schools.

We can embrace concepts by describing them in our languages.

What is of much greater importance is to be literate in our own indigenous languages, and adopt one of our languages as our official language. we can still learn English to facilitate communication with English-speaking peoples.
THINK 6 years ago

WHAT ARE YOU ALL AFRAID OF?

LOOK, THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER WE HAVE BEEN SITTING ON FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND NOTHING TO SHOW FOR. WE ARE WEAK AND DON'T HAVE THE GUMSTION TO RESEARCH SUGGESTIVE PROPOSALS. LAZY GHANAIANS. YOU ...
read full comment

WHAT ARE YOU ALL AFRAID OF?

LOOK, THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER WE HAVE BEEN SITTING ON FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND NOTHING TO SHOW FOR. WE ARE WEAK AND DON'T HAVE THE GUMSTION TO RESEARCH SUGGESTIVE PROPOSALS. LAZY GHANAIANS. YOU DO EVERYTHING FROM EMPIRICAL VIEW. SHAME ON US!
Mallam Amotia JINNI Powers man 6 years ago

,,,,,, Hello people all over the world this is your number 1 spiritual consultation and problem solving center..Anybody out there whether in Ghana or any where in the world who is encountering any problem,difficulties,spiritu ...
read full comment

,,,,,, Hello people all over the world this is your number 1 spiritual consultation and problem solving center..Anybody out there whether in Ghana or any where in the world who is encountering any problem,difficulties,spiritual sickness or any sickness which u have fought for so long and u think the course is not physical and in any form should not hesitate to contact BLACKSUN (THE MARINE LORD) immediately for solution to your problems. If you have been to spiritualist,pastors,traditional preists, mallams or imams or taking steps or traveling to places to be free from all spiritual and demonic attacks and still not delivered or still having your problem pending,please dont waste time before is too late.Which attacks are you encountering ,whether from witchcraft,juju in our local language attacks and all sought of spiritual attacks just get in touch with BLACKSUN from Ghana.I based in USA and Ghana and currently in Ghana.People who have suffered long enough and otherwise should contact now for solution to your problems,whether is your business, illness,at your job site,money rituals,blood money, in traveling as well whether you need a visa or documents for your taveling or point of destination,anywhere in the World,favour/help from somebody whether locally or abroad or relative to help you.Any problem just get intouch . Also if you want protection from all kinds of spirits,also if you are a paster and wants powers for yourself and your church,with this one there are two types that is Gods spirit and Other spirits,with Gods spirits you do not have to charge people for what you do for them but with the Others you can charge for any services rendered..If you are also contesting election and wants to win should also get intouch whether you are a paliamentarian or seeking for the presidency.All people from all kinds and religeous and cultural background are welcome. thanks and hope to her from you all who are oppressed bye for now.This is my contact . or whatsapp (+233547122212.) NB... Nobody visits Blacksun and goes back with his or her problem

Learning in mother tongue won’t lower pupils’ English - GES

Read Comments .st0{display:none;fill:#14BDD3;} .st1{display:none;} .st2{display:inline;fill:#FC0F0F;} .st3{display:inline;fill:#FFFFFF;} .st4{display:inline;fill:none;stroke:#000000;stroke-width:6;stroke-miterlimit:10;} Comments (36)

Read Comments Comments (36)