Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, Mr. Kofi Bentil, has expressed strong support for the government’s new directive promoting the use of local languages as the medium of instruction at the early stages of education.
According to him, the policy is not only sound and practical but also backed by extensive research, which consistently shows that children learn better when taught in a language they already understand.
Teaching in Local Languages Enhances Learning
In a post shared on social media on Monday, October 27, Mr. Bentil argued that teaching children in English when they are not yet proficient in it is both ineffective and counterproductive.
“It has been established that you cannot effectively teach a child in a language they do not understand. You must start with the language they know, then gradually introduce new ones,” he wrote.
He illustrated his point with an example:
“If you take a child from my hometown who only speaks the local dialect and begin teaching them in English, you are wasting both your time and theirs,” he stressed.
Policy Communication and Public Understanding
Mr. Bentil also urged the Minister of Education to ensure that new educational policies are accompanied by clear, comprehensive explanations that outline their rationale and benefits.
“It may be useful for the Minister to follow such pronouncements with more detailed policy statements,” he advised. “This helps the public understand the reasoning behind these decisions and builds broader support for implementation.”
The IMANI Vice President’s comments come amid ongoing national conversations about language, identity, and education reform — a debate that continues to shape the future of Ghana’s learning environment.
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