GROUP ADVOCATES USE OF LOCAL DIALECT FOR BASIC EDUCATION

By Tope Sunday, Ilorin

A group, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has advocated introduction of local languages in schools to promote better understanding in the teaching and learning process.

The group said the use of local dialects for teaching should begin from primary one to three being a formative stage in life.

Kwara State and North Central Zone Coordinator of CSACEFA, Hajia Nimat Labaika, who addressed a press conference in Ilorin, on Monday, also called on the government to encourage the employment of qualified indigenes as teachers from the rural communities where the schools are located.

These, according to her, were parts of the recommendations on the outcome of the research finding conducted by the group.

She urged the state House of Assembly to enact relevant bills and laws that would support implementation of the use of local language in the early years of education of the children.

The group, which also took its fact-findings to nomadic settlements in the state, appealed for posting of teachers who could teach in local language in all nomadic schools across the state.

Part of recommendations reads thus; “That the absorption of teachers employed by SBMCs/PTAs who possess relevant qualification in most of the rural schools be done to fill the existing gaps since these teachers live within the communities where those schools are located.

“CSACEFA also recommends for policy review of rural allowance for teachers posted to rural schools from the present N200 to at least N5000.

“That the government policy should specify that newly recruited teachers should stay for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years in any school posted to be strictly followed”.

The group also enjoined the government to put in place measures to address deplorable condition of primary schools in rural areas.

“More needs to be done to implement the motion of deplorable of primary schools in rural areas. One way to achieve this is to have greater transparency in the recruitment process. All available teaching posts and appointments should be made publicly available.

“Also, Kwara State should follow the example set in other countries, which have successfully succeeded in the recruitment and deployment of teachers in rural areas through adequate provision of major amenities that will make life better for them in the rural schools”, the group said.