KEY POINTS
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Ghana restricts the use of mother tongues to the early grades.
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The policy targets students in Kindergarten to Primary 3.
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Strong support is needed for a successful implementation, according to experts.
The Ministry of Education has moved to calm public debate over the compulsory use of Ghanaian languages in classrooms, clarifying that the directive affects only the earliest stages of basic education.
Deputy Education Minister Dr. Clement Apaak made the clarification on Monday, October 27, 2025, at the launch of the Foundational Learning Action Tracker, after the announcement sparked widespread discussion.
While he explained that Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu’s directive applies strictly to pupils from Kindergarten to Primary 3, not the entire basic education system.
Ghana’s mother tongue policy aims to boost learning
Dr. Apaak clarified that the Minister for Education directed the compulsory use of mother tongue as the medium of instruction in public basic schools only from KG to Primary 3.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the clarification aims to ease public concern and ensure people clearly understand the policy’s intent.
Practically speaking, kindergarten and lower primary pupils will receive education in their native tongues, with English progressively taking over as the primary language of teaching starting in Primary 4.
Experts say the government needs to provide support
Experts in education have praised the decision as a good step toward making basic learning stronger. But they warned that success will depend on the government’s capacity to provide teaching materials, educate teachers, and help with changes to the curriculum.
According to them, the strategy runs the risk of failing like other language-based reforms in the absence of consistent funding.
