English language as a solution to issues and challenges of leadership and good governance in Nigeria

Historical analysis

Authors

  • Iyanda Kamoru Ahmed Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano

Abstract

Language is the vehicle of social interaction needed by every government for effective and good governance. Unfortunately, Nigeria does not have a well articulated and explicit national language policy that can be found in one document. The official language of governance in Nigeria for now is English. No doubt the problem of poor performance in this is the root of all the difficulties in efficient governance in Nigeria. The state of students' performance in the language has deteriorated to an embarrassing and unacceptable level. If the government cannot communicate its policies and programmes to the least of her citizens, there is bound to be great misinterpretation and misunderstanding between the government and the people which is likely to generate into social unrests. In this paper, the writer asserts that unless the teaching and learning of the English language is given the priority it deserves in Nigeria, issues and challenges of leadership and good governance will remain unattended. The most, and apparently difficult problem of poor performance in the English language and by extension, other subjects especially at the secondary school level is examination malpractice. The phenomenon of examination malpractice has become endemic in the educational system. It is suggested that a serious and better training and re-training of teachers is paramount.

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Published

2014-08-25

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Section

Articles