Akwa Ibom Calls For Inclusion of Mother-Tongue in School Curriculum

Akwa Ibom State government has decried the fast decline in the use of vernacular, particularly by the younger generation, calling for its inclusion in schools curriculum to forestall its extinction.
The state deputy governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo made the call while receiving a delegation from the National Institute for Nigerian Languages, Abia State, who came to present published texts for the teaching of Anang language at the level of Universal Basic Education, at Government House, Uyo, the state capital.
The deputy governor expressed the willingness of the state government to improve and contribute to the development of the various language units in the state, in order to ensure the preservation of the cultural values of the people, adding that there would be no place for education without languages.
He commended the National Institute for Nigerian Languages for taking up the challenge he gave them in 2017.
He used the occasion to eulogize the efforts of the former director of the institute, late Dr. Amechie and the leadership of Ati Anang and Afe Anang for the collaborative efforts and support right from the inception of the idea.
Ekpo acknowledged the contributions of the institution to the development of Anang language through the published texts, which he said goes a long way to prove that other languages could be developed as well for the betterment of the educational system across the state and country at large.
According to him, “Anang language is lucky to get to this stage and I pay tribute to both Ati and Afe Anaang, and also the institution for driving the idea.”
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, noted that the state government was aware of the published Anang texts, and had placed them under review for inclusion in the next batch of test for use in Akwa Ibom.
Represented by her Permanent Secretary, Rose Bassey, she expressed hope that more investment would be made by individuals and institutions to develop other languages for use in schools, noting that a lot of Akwa Ibom children were unable to speak the mother tongue, especially with the mindset of it being regarded as native and inferior.
While appreciating the author, Dr. Itoro Michael, she promised to fast-track its inclusion in the text for the school session, once processes were concluded.
The leader of the delegation and executive director of the National Institute of Nigerian Languages, Prof. Obiajulu Emejulu, said the published texts were aimed at promoting the possibility of teaching the language at the universal basic level.