NICO boss condemns introduction of Chinese language in Lagos schools
The Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation, Dr Barclays Ayakoroma, has criticised the introduction of Chinese language as a subject in Lagos schools.
Ayakoroma said interview in Abuja on Friday that more attention ought to be paid in promoting the use of Nigerian languages.
He said: ``we have not thought of learning and speaking our major Nigerian languages very well and we are thinking of learning Chinese.
``Very soon we will be talking of learning Indian (Hindi) and other such foreign languages, it is high time we stopped playing the ostrich.’’
Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos on Nov.18, 2012, cited the globally-expanding Chinese economy as the reason for the introduction of Chinese language in Lagos schools.
The governor, however, noted that the subject was not made compulsory but desirable.
Fashola said that although Yoruba language was still being taught in schools, it would not be the responsibility of teachers to teach pupils and students their mother tongue.
``The decision does not compel any child who does not want to. Let us start from there but perhaps I think it is important and this is my view of the matter.
``Our mother tongue, Yoruba language, is not the responsibility that we should pass to the teachers. It is the responsibility of the parents to teach their children Yoruba language at home.
``We can’t blame the teachers for our children not speaking Yoruba language. We must be honest with ourselves. Other ethnic groups don’t suffer that affliction.
“Now, about Chinese language, I think we must continue to think about what our world would be like in the next 20 to 30 years.
``And anybody who is being honest with himself would see clearly that from Britain to the U.S., the Chinese are becoming our largest trading partners,” the governor said.
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