The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday called for a Stakeholders’ Summit targeted at mandating teaching and learning of Yoruba Language at least three (3) periods a week in private and public schools.
This resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade and seconded by Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services.
The lawmakers took turns to express dissatisfaction over the rejection of Yoruba Language both is schools and at home by some parents.
Agunbiade spoke in commemoration of the 7th Anniversary of using Yoruba Language for deliberations every Thursday in the Assembly, which commenced on February 5, 2009.
He said, “This House calls on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to direct Commissioner for Education to take a quick step to ensure that syllabus in public and private schools in the state make the teaching and learning of Yoruba Language compulsory.
“That we should convey a Stakeholders’ Summit to look at the challenges in teaching Yoruba in schools as well as to ensure that Yoruba Language is taught at least three times in a week both in private and public schools.”
According to him, it has become necessary to call a meeting of Tutor General, PTA and all other stakeholders in education sector to know the problems.
“Most schools today do not speak Yoruba Language again and other indigenous languages. In fact, many parents frown at their children whenever they speak Yoruba.
“We should ensure that Yoruba Language does not go into extinction. Other people embrace their language, we should also be proud of ours.
“We should meet with all heads of Education Districts, if teachers are not enough, we should employ more. We don’t have any justification for not teaching and embracing our language,” he said.
In his contribution, Lanre Ogunyemi, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, said the responsibility was on the government and parents to ensure that Yoruba Language did not go into extinction.
Ogunyemi said, “it is a must that we bequeath the language to our children. The National Policy on Education and our constitution mandate the teaching and learning of our indigenous languages.
“We need to call on all in charge of education to comply with this in Lagos. Indigenous Languages will promote love and unity.”
According to him, February 21 is the United Nation Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Mother Language Day.
Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, who also called for the promotion of Yoruba Language, culture and tradition, said it was not good to call Yoruba language a vernacular.
Adefunmilayo Tejuoso (APC-Mushin I) said, “We have thrown away our Language, adding that there is nothing to be ashamed of in speaking our language.”
Tejuoso decried the habit of punishing or making students pay fine for speaking Yoruba language in schools.
Dayo Saka-Fafunmi, the Chairman, House Committee on Environment said that no nation progresses without indigenous languages.
In his response, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa said, “it is not our making that we were born here, others speaking their indigenous languages are progressing in other climes.
“We need to encourage our language, and be proud of it. Using our indigenous language to teach our children yields better results as posited by late Bola Ige and Prof. Wole Soyinka.
“We will call for a stakeholders’ summit on this motion to promote teaching and learning of Yoruba in schools as most private schools do not embrace it again,” Obasa said.