Gambia to Introduce Local Languages in Early Education
By Mariama Dem
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has announced plans to implement the country’s new Language in Education Policy from this year, promoting the use of local languages in teaching literacy and as the medium of instruction in early grades.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, officials outlined the policy’s aim to nurture multilingualism and improve access to quality education by allowing children to learn first in their mother tongue.
The policy recognises that language plays a crucial role in education and intends to nurture the use of local languages in schools during early childhood education as research has shown that children learn best when taught in a language they understand.
It encourages using local languages for instruction in lower grades before gradually transitioning to English in higher grades.
The policy also caters to sign languages and will undergo public consultations starting next week to explain the concept and implementation plans to Gambians.
Adama Jimba Jobe, Deputy Permanent Secretary at MoBSE, said the government developed the policy after extensive research, consultations and a vision for inclusive education.
The move aims to address low learning outcomes in primary schools by aligning classroom practices with research findings on the benefits of mother tongue instruction.
Five core principles stress the transformative impact of using national languages to enhance learning outcomes, national identity, unity, progress and language fluency.
Hon. Sidia Jatta, a language expert and former National Assembly Member who has pushed for introducing local languages in schools, expressed joy at seeing his longstanding efforts yield results.
Teacher deployment will be guided by considerations of language fluency, with an emphasis on supporting multilingual teachers, fostering cultural sensitivity, and creating a supportive environment conducive to effective language-medium instruction.
The policy strives to promote linguistic diversity while ensuring students gain necessary language skills in an increasingly globalised world.