A non-governmental organisation, Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), has advocated bilingual education at the primary school level.
The Team Lead of PLANE, Diana Agabi, said that bilingual education enhanced effective communication among students.
She said this message at a 2024 International Literacy Day event organised by PLANE, in collaboration with the State Basic Universal Education Board (SUBEB) at Rimi College, Kaduna.
Ms Diana Agabi stressed that learners should not only read and write in English, but also in their local languages, to better integrate into their immediate environment.
She drew a parallel with foreign countries like China and Russia, where Nigerian students must learn the local languages for effective communication.
The Permanent Member Commissioner of SUBEB, Dr Jamilu Haruna, praised PLANE for organising a quiz for public primary schools to celebrate the day, noting that public schools often had more qualified teachers compared to private schools.