Nigerian Academy of Education Faults FG on Policy Reversal, Raises Alarm Over School Attacks
Otamere Gladness 
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has criticised the Federal Government for scrapping the 2022 National Language Policy, urging the restoration of mother-tongue instruction in the early years of schooling.
In a position paper submitted on November 25 and released on Friday, NAE leaders—including President Emeritus Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede and Secretary-General Prof. Chris Chukwurah—described the policy reversal as a “grave disservice,” warning it could erode cultural identity and undermine learning outcomes.
The Academy referenced the long-standing Ife Six-Year Project, which demonstrated improved performance among children who began schooling in their native language before transitioning to English.
The NAE dismissed claims by Minister of Education Maruf Alausa that mother-tongue instruction up to Primary 4 contributes to poor examination performance, insisting no national evidence supports the assertion.
The organisation also raised alarm over Nigeria’s worsening school security situation, reporting at least 92 attacks on educational institutions since 2014, with more than 2,500 students abducted and many others harmed. It described current protective measures as inadequate and not reflective of the scale of threats facing schools.
“These are not statistics but shattered dreams and grieving families,” the statement noted, stressing the need for stronger community-based protection systems, swift prosecution of attackers, and greater support for affected learners.
The Academy emphasised that safeguarding education must be treated as a national emergency, stating: “If Nigeria fails to protect its schools and its young ones, it fails to protect its future.”
About the Author
Hussaini Ibrahim 
Oluwatobi Adu