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Language Policy and Minority Language Education in Nigeria: Cross River State Educational Experience

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Language Policy and Minority Language Education in Nigeria: Cross River State Educational Experience INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEDAGOGY, POLICY AND ICT IN EDUCATION Dr. R. I. Ndimele Volume 2, Number 1. 2012. 59-70 LANGUAGE POLICY AND MINORITY LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: CROSS RIVER STATE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE BY Roseline I. Ndimele Ph.D Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies, Abia State University,Uturu. Nigeria Abstract The politics of language is a very sensitive issue in Nigeria as language can hardly be detached from the apron strings of the people's senses of identity and loyalty. This paper examines the concept of language policy and planning in Nigeria and its implication for education in the minority languages, with emphasis on the languages of Cross River State. The study discovers that there is no robust and well-articulated language planning framework in the country but only a language provision of the National Policy on Education (NPE). This reinforces the operation of language in education planning process, which unfortunately does not guarantee or strengthen literacy in the indigenous languages especially the so-called minority languages of Nigeria. The paper goes ahead to recommend the development of a functional and articulate language policy framework which can arrest the imminent crisis of endangerment and extinction of the indigenous languages in Cross River State. Introduction the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).The There is no comprehensive census on implication is that these 36 are the only Nigerian languages to date but there are languages with the prospects of literacy, varying accounts of the number of literature and cultural expression. In spite of languages spoken in Nigeria by linguists and this potential, it is discovered that only a language experts based on approximations handful, possibly. Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa and estimations. Grimes (1996) puts the and a few others are actually languages of figure at 515, Blench and Crozier (1992) education in most Nigerian schools. In agreed on 440, Bendor-Samuel and Cross River, a South Eastern State where Standford (1976) enumerated 394 among this study in concerned, where over forty others. Out of this number, only 36 have languages are spoken, only, one, Efik is approved orthographies while the taught, not as a medium of instruction but development of orthographies for another 6 merely as a curriculum subject in a section is on-going (based on the figures released by of the state where it is spoken as the 59 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEDAGOGY, POLICY AND ICT IN EDUCATION Dr. R. I. Ndimele Volume 2, Number 1. 2012 language of the immediate environment. mainly as domesticated languages. Outside Many other 'small' languages are on the their use at homes, they do not play any role verge of extinction given the problem of in education or the media even within their absence of social transmission and the immediate communities. The minor impact of globalization and the new language, the third category, are used in information/communication technology. In localities as mother tongue but not in this paper, we examine the concepts of education or the media. In Cross River State, language policy and planning and situate languages like Lokaa, Ubang, Agwagune, them in the context of the minority Bete, Kohumono, Leggbo and Kiong are so indigenous languages in education, using classified. A few of them are on the verge of the languages of Cross River State as our extinction. In addition to this categorization, reference point. In the discussion that there is also the exoglossic or foreign follows, we examine the language situation languages like English, French and Arabic. in Nigeria from the perspective of Nigeria languages in education. English is the constitutionally recognized official language in Nigeria. It is the language of education, legislation, media, The Language Situation in Nigeria business and administration. The high Nigeria is a culturally and linguistically degree of diversity in the Nigerian linguistic heterogeneous society. Every language is landscape is a continued motivation for the classified as major, minor, micro-minor use of English in the country's mainstream (Emananjo 1985) or decamillionaire, economic and socio-political spectra. millionaire and minor (Awonusi 2007), and French was recognized as an official so on based on the population of speakers of language in the 1998 National Policy on these languages. Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba are Education (NPE) by the Sani Abacha-led the major languages in the country. Awonusi military junta as a way of encouraging and (2007) refers to this category of languages as promoting West African regional co- the decamillionaires given their multi- operation and trade concern. This is million speakers, and functioning as local imperative because most of Nigeria's lingua francas as well as regional or state neighbours are Francophone countries like languages in areas where they are spoken. Benin Republic, Togo and Cameroon. He also identified the millionaire languages Outside this official diplomatic in Nigeria such as Efik,Edo, Ibibio, grandstanding, French does not have the Fulfulde, Tiv, Idoma, Igala, Kanuri, and Tiv. popular acceptance, influence and spread as They have a minimum of about a million an exoglossic language in Nigeria. It is speakers and had been associated with the mainly used within the educational domain states where they are predominantly spoken. as an examinable subject or a taught course Categories of Nigerian indigenous especially in Colleges of Educastion and languages referred to as minor or micro- Universities. Arabic is the least influential minor languages (Emananjo 1985), are the among the foreign languages in Nigeria. It is small splinter group languages which are mostly used in the Northern part of the mainly spoken by a handful of speakers country for education and regional 60 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEDAGOGY, POLICY AND ICT IN EDUCATION Dr. R. I. Ndimele Volume 2, Number 1. 2012 communication. Awonusi (2007) argues that submerged by Efik (Mensah and Offiong both French and the Arabic enjoy a less- 2004). privileged status and are non-vocational electives, having moved from being A similar trend has also been observed of compulsory languages in first three years of Mbembe speakers in Ikom and Yala. secondary education. Historically, Mbembe is the predominant language in Obubra but given the impact of The majority of Cross River State languages migration and communal or tribal wars and fall into the category of micro-minor. Our conflicts, the original stock of people are concern, therefore, is to highlight the plight disintegrated or dispersed to found new of such languages in the light of the homes and settlements in neighbouring language policy and planning and make places. The speakers of Mbembe in Ikom useful suggestions for their practical and and Yala owe their ethnic affiliation to Ikom ideological development. In the discussion and Yala respectively but only identifies that follows, we examined the status of with the Mbembe speaking people Cross River languages. linguistically. There are also instances where speakers of Agoi, a primary language The Status of Cross River State in Yakurr Local government area, are also Languages found in small groups in Biase, Akamkpa Cross River State is one of the South- and Ikom which also account for Eastern States in Nigeria. It was created in multilayered identities. 1976 by the Murtala Muhammed military junta. From it, Akwa Ibom State was There are about 40 languages in Cross River created in 1987 by the Ibrahim Babangida State, though this figure is still subject to military government. The original Cross scholarly debates. Grimes (2007) identifies River State is, therefore made up of 18 local 45 languages, Mensah & Offiong (2004) government areas. The State is undoubtedly recognizes 48 and Crabb (1968) identifies a heterogeneous society with each ethnic 50. A major problem with the classification nationality thriving to strengthen its of Cross River State languages is the linguistic, social, cultural and political dichotomy between language and dialect. identity. However, there is multilayering of Ejagham language for instance, has well ethnic identities. For instance, the Kiong over twenty dialects across the state but a (Odukpani and Akamkpa) and Efut people few scholars find it difficult to make this (Calabar South) see themselves more as distinction and classify some dialects as Efik, a dominant neighbouring language and languages. Efik is the only Cross River State culture. While Kiong has a handful of language that is regarded as a millionaire speakers (about 5,000), the Efut language is language. It is spoken predominantly in extinct. The last speaker of Usakedet (the Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Calabar Municipality, language of the Efut people) died in 2001. In Calabar South and Odukpani. It is also this way, both Kiong and Efut children speak spoken as a second language in Akamkpa, Efik as their mother tongue and their cultural Ikom, Ugep and in such places like Itu, Oron and ancestral heritage have been completely and Uruan. It is undeniably the most 61 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEDAGOGY, POLICY AND ICT IN EDUCATION Dr. R. I. Ndimele Volume 2, Number 1. 2012 developed language in Cross River State. It is a language of education, not as a medium of instruction but an examinable subject in primary and post primary curriculum. It has a complete Bible translation, dictionaries, series and literature texts. It was examined in London General Certificate of Education (GCE) and later West Africa Examination Certificate (WAEC), GCE ordinary level from 1960-1987. It was the introduction of 6-3-3-4 system of education that dimmed the educational influence of Efik. Currently, it is strongly being considered to be reintroduced as an examinable subject for national examination by both WAEC and National Examination Council (NECO). The Efik language is also studied up to the University level precisely at the University of Uyo and Calabar. Efik also enjoys reputable coverage in the media houses especially in public enlightenment, entertainment and news broadcast.
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