The Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) has condemned the Federal Government’s decision to scrap the National Language Policy and urged Education Minister Maruf Alausa to restore mother tongue as the medium of instruction at early schooling levels.

In a statement signed by its President, Emeritus Prof. Olugbemiro Jegede, and Secretary General, Prof. Chris Chukwurah, the Academy argued that overwhelming evidence supports early learning in indigenous languages.

It referenced initiatives such as the Ife Six-Year Project and recent bilingual education studies, noting that pupils who begin education in their native languages perform better academically and demonstrate stronger cultural grounding, even in English.

It called for immediate reinstatement of the policy, supported by teacher training, adequate instructional materials, stakeholder engagement and regular evidence-based evaluation to safeguard literacy and protect national heritage.

In a separate statement, the Academy decried the resurgence of school attacks by terrorists, warning that Nigeria’s education system is under siege as repeated invasions have left thousands of learners abducted, hundreds killed, many injured and scores still missing.

The NAE urged government and security agencies to provide full protection for learners and personnel, enforce penalties against perpetrators, strengthen intelligence coordination and deliver trauma care and support to affected families.