The Ministry of Education has explained the government’s proposed language of instruction policy for basic schools, saying reports that foreign languages have been made compulsory are false.
In a statement signed by the Press Secretary to the Minister for Education, Hashmin Mohammed, the ministry said Ghanaian languages will be the main language of instruction from Kindergarten (KG) to Primary Three.
According to the ministry, the policy is aimed at helping children improve their literacy, numeracy, critical thinking and overall learning during their early years.
The ministry said research shows that children learn better when they are taught in a language they understand.
Under the proposed curriculum, pupils from Primary Four to Primary Six will be taught in both Ghanaian languages and English to help them smoothly move to higher levels of education, where English becomes the main language of instruction.
The ministry also made it clear that foreign languages such as French, Arabic and Chinese will not be compulsory.
Instead, the languages will be offered as optional subjects for pupils who want to learn them, depending on the availability of qualified teachers and learning materials in their schools.
The ministry said the policy follows international educational practices, which encourage children to first learn in a familiar language before adding other languages.
It added that the policy is intended to improve literacy, promote multilingualism and preserve Ghana’s languages and culture.
The Ministry of Education urged parents, teachers, school authorities, media organisations and the public to ignore claims that foreign languages have been made compulsory under the proposed curriculum.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to introducing education policies that improve learning and equip Ghanaian children with the knowledge and skills they need for the future.
