The National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), has called on the Federal Government to support its efforts in producing graduate teachers that can teach science subjects in local languages.
This appeal was made by the Executive Director of the Institute, Prof. Obiajulu Emejulu, 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 NINLAN Executive Director told the visiting team that the institute’s mandate was relevant to 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.
Also speaking, the Deputy Executive Director of NINLAN, Prof. Solomon Oyetade, said teaching in local languages would boost 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”