Mother tongue is key to early learning – Dr. Apaak urges parents to teach children in local languages

The Ministry of Education has urged mothers to make greater use of their mother tongue when communicating and teaching their children, stressing that local languages play a critical role in laying a strong foundation for early learning.

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak said mothers have an indispensable role to play as the Ministry intensifies efforts to deliver early childhood and lower-primary education in the Ghanaian language children speak at home.

He made the call while speaking as guest speaker at the 2026 MomCo Conference in Accra on Saturday, August 22.

Dr. Apaak said the language children first hear from their mothers can significantly support their early learning and literacy development.

“As the Ministry intensifies efforts to deliver early childhood and lower-primary education in the Ghanaian language, a child speaks at home — their mother tongue. The mothers play an indispensable role in this regard,” he said.

He explained that mothers are central to children’s early education because they are often their first source of communication, interaction, and learning.

“A child learns fastest in the language they first heard from their mother,” Dr. Apaak said.

He therefore encouraged mothers to speak, read, and tell stories to their children in their local languages, stressing that doing so does not hinder their education.

“When you speak, read and tell stories to your children in your own language, you are not slowing their education down; you are laying the truest foundation for it,” he said.

The Deputy Minister further urged mothers to continue using their mother tongue through everyday activities such as speaking, singing, and reading with their children.

“I encourage every mother here to keep speaking, singing, and reading to your children in your mother tongue because you are, in truth, your child’s first teacher of literacy,” he said.

Dr. Apaak also highlighted the importance of partnerships between the Ministry of Education and organisations such as MomCo in advancing early childhood education.

He said equipping mothers with knowledge in areas including play-based learning, nutrition, and positive parenting could help strengthen children’s educational foundation before they enter formal classrooms.