Don Urges Prioritisation Of Mother-tongue Instruction In Schools

A professor of Educational Technology at the University of Ilorin, Prof Aderonke Soetan, has urged government and education stakeholders to prioritise mother-tongue instruction to unlock learners’ full potential in Nigeria’s education system.

She also called effective use of instructional resources to aide teaching and learning in schools.

She underscored the role of parents and communities in language development, urging them to speak mother tongue at home to complement school efforts and ensure early language acquisition and cultural continuity.

Soetan made these recommendations in the 295th inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin, titled “Unlocking Learning Potentials: The Right Language and Instructional Resources,” which she delivered.

She  stressed that learning has shifted from teacher-dominated approaches to student-centred methods, noting that appropriate instructional resources are essential for meaningful learning outcomes.

“Learning in the 21st century is student-centred, and teachers must deliberately use relevant instructional resources to awaken learners’ potentials and promote deeper understanding,” she said.

She advocated inclusive learning through the adoption of assistive technologies, explaining that learners with special needs should have equal access to language learning and instructional materials.

The don  also called for the development of indigenous instructional resources, urging educational technologists, curriculum developers and language educators to collaborate in producing culturally relevant learning materials in Nigerian languages.

Soetan also recommended the establishment and strengthening of instructional resource centres in educational institutions, where teaching materials can be produced, stored, borrowed and used to support classroom instruction.

Explaining the value of instructional resources, she said they help reduce abstraction in learning by transforming concepts into concrete experiences through field trips, models, pictures, games, simulations, animations and online resources.

She added that the comprehensive use of instructional resources across all subject areas, both within and beyond the classroom, would enhance skills acquisition and address emerging challenges in educational technology.