Education Minister orders compulsory use of mother tongue in schools

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) to strictly enforce the compulsory use of mother tongue instruction in all Ghanaian schools.

He said the policy forms part of the government’s broader education reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes and preserving Ghana’s linguistic heritage.

Speaking at the launch of the Free Tertiary Education Programme for Persons Living with Disabilities, Mr Iddrisu explained that the move aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s “reset agenda” to strengthen foundational learning through local language instruction.

“I am directing the DG of the GES and the GES that from today, teacher use of mother tongue instruction is now compulsory in all Ghanaian schools,” the minister stated.

“The GES is to ensure strict enforcement of this… This is part of President Mahama’s reset agenda,” he added.

Education analysts have long argued that overreliance on English as the main language of instruction has contributed to poor reading and understanding among pupils.

The minister’s directive intends to change this narrative by ensuring that every child begins schooling in a familiar language.

It marks a major shift in Ghana’s education policy, reinforcing efforts to make learning more inclusive, culturally relevant, and effective across all levels of basic education.

Meanwhile, President John Mahama at the event announced major reforms to promote inclusive education in Ghana with focus on Persons With Disabilities.

As part of the new measures, the President revealed that a Disability Desk will be established in every Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA). Each desk, he explained, will work closely with local branches of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled to prepare an annual budget outlining how the increased five per cent allocation will be utilised to address specific needs within their jurisdictions.

Beyond financial allocations, President Mahama also assured that a minimum of five per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities in both the public and private sectors will be strictly enforced.

He further noted that private institutions that comply with this employment quota will benefit from tax incentives as a form of encouragement.