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| Bello |
Kogi
develops curriculum for local languages
develops curriculum for local languages
By Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
Fearing that the indigenous languages are at the risk of going extinct,
Kogi state government has approved a curriculum for the teaching and learning
of Igala and Ebira languages, according to kogireport.
Kogi state government has approved a curriculum for the teaching and learning
of Igala and Ebira languages, according to kogireport.
This was as the state hosted the 45th annual convention of Yoruba
Language Teachers in the basic, secondary and tertiary institutions across the
country held at the Federal Government Girls Science Secondary school, Kabba,
Kogi state.
Language Teachers in the basic, secondary and tertiary institutions across the
country held at the Federal Government Girls Science Secondary school, Kabba,
Kogi state.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary
Osikoya who was excited at the conduct of the participants who conducted the
activities only in Yoruba language
throughout the sessions charged them to marry
language and culture for the development of the society.
Osikoya who was excited at the conduct of the participants who conducted the
activities only in Yoruba language
throughout the sessions charged them to marry
language and culture for the development of the society.
Osikoya disclosed this in her office yesterday in Lokoja, while receiving
a report of the committee to fashion out Kogi state curriculum for Igala and
Ebira indigenous languages.
a report of the committee to fashion out Kogi state curriculum for Igala and
Ebira indigenous languages.
She noted that the essence of education is for the transformation of the
total culture of the society to a child through spoken language.
total culture of the society to a child through spoken language.
She said a child at birth comes in contact with the outside world through
symbols, signs, letters and other materials used for communication.
symbols, signs, letters and other materials used for communication.
She stressed that the National Policy on Education which was first convened
in 1977 as a result of some grievances for the mode of the colonial master’s
education system for the country came out with resolutions for states to use
indigenous languages as means of transmitting instructions to children at the
basic education levels.
in 1977 as a result of some grievances for the mode of the colonial master’s
education system for the country came out with resolutions for states to use
indigenous languages as means of transmitting instructions to children at the
basic education levels.
Osikoya explained that the promotion of indigenous language and
culture is meant to bring about the
total development of the characters and personality of the child.
culture is meant to bring about the
total development of the characters and personality of the child.
She said to this end, Kogi state government had constituted a committee
to draft a curriculum for Igala and Ebira languages of which the committee have
submitted its report, adding that the Okun in Kogi had already been captured
under wider Yoruba Language with her already established curriculum.
to draft a curriculum for Igala and Ebira languages of which the committee have
submitted its report, adding that the Okun in Kogi had already been captured
under wider Yoruba Language with her already established curriculum.
She commended the chairman of the committee, Dr. Friday Eneojo Ikani and
his team for a painstaking assignment, saying that they were able to accomplish
the task within the record time for their passion for the mother languages.
his team for a painstaking assignment, saying that they were able to accomplish
the task within the record time for their passion for the mother languages.
She equally commended the Governor Yahaya Bello for giving her the latitude
to injects ideas at solving problems that have
bedeviled the educational sector.
to injects ideas at solving problems that have
bedeviled the educational sector.
“Whenever Kogi educational sector is mentioned across the country, some
people would have to adjust their lenses. In the light of this ugly trend, the
governor graciously approved the framework for the transformation of the
sector,” she said.
people would have to adjust their lenses. In the light of this ugly trend, the
governor graciously approved the framework for the transformation of the
sector,” she said.
While promising to table the report to the governor, she said after
necessary study on the report, the government would forward it to Nigeria
Education Research and Development Council (NERDC) for ratification.
necessary study on the report, the government would forward it to Nigeria
Education Research and Development Council (NERDC) for ratification.
She called on the committee to avail the government the availability of
the textbooks on the subject matter and where and how to source them promising
to involve the State Printing Press in the publication of the books to maximise
profit.
the textbooks on the subject matter and where and how to source them promising
to involve the State Printing Press in the publication of the books to maximise
profit.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee Dr. Friday Eneojo Ikani
thanked governor Yahaya Bello and the commissioner for the
opportunity given to them to serve their
fatherland.
thanked governor Yahaya Bello and the commissioner for the
opportunity given to them to serve their
fatherland.
He advised the government not the keep the report on the shelf, rather to
pass the report to the appropriate
federal government agency for adoption into our education system.
pass the report to the appropriate
federal government agency for adoption into our education system.
…….Governor tasks parents on culture
Meanwhile state governor, Yahaya Bello of Tuesday appealed to parents,
especially mothers to protect Nigerian indigenous languages and culture from
going into extinction.
especially mothers to protect Nigerian indigenous languages and culture from
going into extinction.
Bello made the call at Kabba, Kogi, while declaring open the 45th Annual
National Conference and General Meeting of the Association of Teachers of
Yoruba Language and Culture of Nigeria.
National Conference and General Meeting of the Association of Teachers of
Yoruba Language and Culture of Nigeria.
The five-day conference tagged, “Kogi 2019” was a gathering of all Yoruba
language instructors across the country, which was also organised to mark the
Golden Jubilee anniversary of the association.
language instructors across the country, which was also organised to mark the
Golden Jubilee anniversary of the association.
The theme of the conference is: ”Traditional Culture and Democracy:
Exploring New Frontiers for Greater National Economy.”
Exploring New Frontiers for Greater National Economy.”
Represented by the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew
Kolawole, the governor urged mothers to teach their children good culture and
indigenous languages with sound discipline.
Kolawole, the governor urged mothers to teach their children good culture and
indigenous languages with sound discipline.
According to him, mothers are very close to their children, hence the
need for them to make deliberate effort to teach their children how to speak
the mother tongue.
need for them to make deliberate effort to teach their children how to speak
the mother tongue.
Bello noted that Nigeria especially Kogi was blessed with varieties of
culture and languages, stressing the need to protect them from outright
extinction.
culture and languages, stressing the need to protect them from outright
extinction.
He urged Nigerians to be more united as one indivisible nation, saying,
“it is when we are united that we can together take our nation to greater
height.”
“it is when we are united that we can together take our nation to greater
height.”
The governor pledged to initiate a bill that will make indigenous
languages compulsory for teaching in Kogi schools.
languages compulsory for teaching in Kogi schools.
He then donated three million naira to the national body of the
association, while the state chapter received two million naira, while Kolawole
made a personal donation of N500, 000.
association, while the state chapter received two million naira, while Kolawole
made a personal donation of N500, 000.
On her part, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, the state Commissioner for Education,
Science and Technology, urged teachers to ensure that the knowledge content of
culture was effectively transmitted to the children.
Science and Technology, urged teachers to ensure that the knowledge content of
culture was effectively transmitted to the children.
According to her, the National Policy on Education stipulates that the
transmission of knowledge for a child at basic education should be done through
the mother tongue.
transmission of knowledge for a child at basic education should be done through
the mother tongue.
She noted that the state government was working hard to translate
curriculum in Igala and Ebira languages, just as it had already been in Yoruba
language in Kogi schools, up to secondary level.
curriculum in Igala and Ebira languages, just as it had already been in Yoruba
language in Kogi schools, up to secondary level.
“Promoting language and culture is part of what would bring about the
development of the personality and the character of a child; so, indigenous
language is very important.
development of the personality and the character of a child; so, indigenous
language is very important.
“We are happy to welcome all
Yoruba teachers across Nigeria to Kogi; we urge you to ensure that the
knowledge content of culture and language is adequately transferred to the
children,” Osikoya said.
Yoruba teachers across Nigeria to Kogi; we urge you to ensure that the
knowledge content of culture and language is adequately transferred to the
children,” Osikoya said.
The National President of EAAYN, Mrs Omowumi Faleye, commended the people
of Kogi for their hospitality, while urging the state government to help in
promoting indigenous languages in schools.
of Kogi for their hospitality, while urging the state government to help in
promoting indigenous languages in schools.
All the activities at the event were conducted solely in Yoruba language.
The highlight of the events was the stage performance by hunters and
cultural troupe, who danced and eulogised the popular Yoruba deity, Sango, the
‘god of thunder’.
cultural troupe, who danced and eulogised the popular Yoruba deity, Sango, the
‘god of thunder’.