In a historic education reform, the government of Ghana has announced plans to replace English with local languages as the main medium of instruction in all basic schools across the country.
The bold policy aims to make learning more inclusive, effective, and culturally grounded, especially for young learners in rural and urban areas alike. According to Ghana’s Ministry of Education, the move is intended to ensure that every child begins their education in a language they understand best.
Under the new plan, children will be taught core subjects such as mathematics, science, and social studies in their mother tongues during the early years of schooling. Officials believe this will enable pupils to grasp concepts more quickly, express themselves clearly, and participate more actively in class discussions.
For decades, education experts and linguists have argued that early learning in familiar languages improves comprehension, creativity, and overall academic performance. Ghana’s government hopes the change will narrow the learning gap between rural and urban schools and significantly boost literacy rates nationwide.
Speaking at the policy unveiling, education authorities emphasized that the reform is part of a broader strategy to promote national identity and preserve Ghana’s rich linguistic heritage. English will remain part of the curriculum but will be introduced as a second language after children have built strong foundations in their native languages.
The government also plans to train teachers, revise learning materials, and develop textbooks in multiple Ghanaian languages to support the transition.
Education analysts have hailed the move as a progressive step toward decolonizing Africa’s education systems, noting that similar approaches in countries like Ethiopia and Tanzania have yielded impressive literacy improvements.
If implemented successfully, Ghana could become a model for multilingual education across the continent, showing how embracing local languages can empower future generations both intellectually and culturally.
