Indigenous Language To Be Included As Entry Requirement Into Tertiary Institutions In Ghana

The Bureau of Ghana Languages (BGL) has advised Ghana Education Service (GES) to include an indigenous language as an entry requirement into tertiary education.

 

This, according to them will rekindle the desire for the study of Ghanaian languages.

 

“As a means of rejuvenating public interest and appreciation for indigenous languages in Ghana, we wish to recommend that entry requirements into tertiary institutions should be opened up to include one indigenous language,” the Bureau said.

The BGL made this recommendation at the 24th Edition of the UNESCO International Mother Language Day Celebration under the theme; “Multilingualism – A Necessity to Transform Education” in Accra on Tuesday.

The Bureau explained that should one language be made a requirement, it would renew the desire to study native languages.

 

“This would eventually awaken or rekindle the desire to study examinable indigenous languages,” the institute said.

The BGL pointed out that although there have been complaints about a lack of teaching and learning materials, it is best that the GES makes an attempt to preserve the language rather than allow them to fade into oblivion.

The Institute further said the GES has undertaken steps to ensure the continuity of languages by instructing pupils from Upper Primary to JHS to study by compulsion, the dominant language of the community they find themselves.

 

However, it acknowledged there have been countless limitations.

 

Highlighting these limitations, the Bureau said, “the barriers once again include; insufficient teachers who are resourceful in those indigenous languages at various locations where they are posted to teach.

“Lack of resourceful indigenous language teachers, lack of indigenous language textbooks, heterogeneous mix of students and pupils from all regions of Ghana.”

 

However, the institute stressed that multilingual education could be an asset if it can be encouraged amongst the various ethnic compositions of Ghana and within schools and colleges.