LANGUAGE POLICIES, NATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIAL REALITIES IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIO-CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Keywords:
Nigeria, philosophy, language, policy, realities, socio-conflictAbstract
The paper is a critique of the Nigerian National philosophy/objectives on the one hand, and the political and educational language policies generated from the philosophy and objectives on the other hand. In corollary, the paper draws people's attention to the incongruence between the theory and practice of both the philosophy/objectives and the educational and political language policies. It is against this backdrop that various recommendations were made with regard to the implementation of the Nigerian National language policies embedded in the National Policy on Education (NPE) 1981 and 2004; and 1979/1999 Federal Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria so that what is actually on paper would eventually see the light of day and made practicable. In addition, implications were drawn from the analysis and discussion towards encouraging an enduring peace and unity in the multilingual- multicultural Nigeria using practical triglotic literacy approach.
References
Adewole, L.O. (2007): "Issues in Current Studies on African Languages" in Akinrinade, Sola; Dipo Fashina; David 0. Ogungbile and J.O Famakinwa (Eds). Rethinking the Humanities in Africa. Ile-Ife: Cedar Production/ Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, He- lie (p.335-344).
Akindele, Femi and Wale Adegbite (2005): The Sociology and Politics of English in Nigeria: An Introduction. Ile-Ife: O.A.U. Press.
Atoye. R.O. (1994): "Towards a New Language Education Programme in Nigeria" in Adegbite, Wale and Emeka Onukaogu (Eds): Language in Education in Nigeria: Some Critical Perspectives. Ile-Ife: Centre for Language in Education and Development (pp. 11 - 24).
Federal Republic of Nigeria (1981): National Policy on Education (Revised). Y aba-Lagos: NERDC Press.
Federal Republic of Nigeria (2004): National Policy on Education. 4th Edition. Language Policies, National Philosophy and Social Realities in Nigeria 13
Federal Government School Book Aid (1989): The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Hornby, A.S. (2005): Oxford Advanced Learners' Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Jubril, Munzali (2007): "New Directions in African Linguistics". Akinrinade, Sola et al (Eds) Rethinking the Humanities in Africa. Faculty of Arts/Cedar Productions
Sonaiya, Remi (2007): Rethinking the Language in Education Policies of African Nations. Akinrinade, Sola et al; Rethinking the Humanities in Africa. Faculty of Arts/Cedar Productions (pp. 319-334).
Ogunsiji, Yemi (2003): "A Critical Assessment of Educational and Political Language Policy Documents in Nigeria". Oyeleye, Lekan and Moji Olateju (Eds) Readings in Language and Literature. Ile-Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press.
