Local language has nothing to do with doing well academically – Dr. Adutwum

By | January 17, 2022


The Honourable Minister of Education Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum has stated that local languages do not make a student do well academically.

Speaking on Ghana Broadcasting Cooperation (GBC) Talking point yesterday Sunday 16th January 2022, the minister was asked by the host Dr. Anim Wright as to how the Ministry of Education is putting their plans to ensure that local is used as a medium of instructions in Ghanaian schools since the English Language sometimes does serve as a barrier of understanding to some students. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum responded that Singapore didn’t use the local language and they are one of the best in the world.

Dr. Adutwum stated that talking about the thing invariably, local language has nothing to do with doing well academically. He, however, stated that those arguing that local language should be introduced as a medium of instruction have a case in the sense that if the students lose their local language they are however losing some aspect of their culture.

He stated that some parents who are making the argument sometimes visit his office and the question he asks them is which school does your child attend and the answer is GISA and the next question he does ask them is do they use local language in teaching at GISA and they will say no but the children are performing well there.

He argues that some people have made a point that they have done a survey and have realized that Twi is dominating but the question he is asking is what if you are teaching a class and ten students are there who do not understand twi what do you do to them?

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He said the only problem we have as a country is the English Language content where students are taught like they are native speakers. He said there is the need for a shift in the content of the English Language to be taught as a second language in Ghana.

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