The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a new bill aimed at making Hausa the main language of instruction in primary and junior secondary schools across the state.
The legislation, titled the Kano State Mother Tongue (Hausa Language) Education Enforcement Bill, was introduced by Mr Musa Kachako, a member representing Takai under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Why Hausa language in schools
Presenting the bill during plenary, Mr Kachako said the initiative followed global best practices in education.
He pointed to countries like China, Japan, and India, which he said had made major strides in science and technology by teaching children in their native languages from an early age.
He explained that using Hausa as the primary language in classrooms would help pupils understand lessons better, reduce failure rates, and lower the number of school dropouts. He added that the policy would also protect cultural identity and make education more inclusive.
According to Mr Kachako, a legal framework for mother tongue education would lay a stronger foundation for learning and make complex subjects like science and technology easier for pupils to grasp.
After discussion, the Assembly referred the bill to its Standing Committee on Education for further review and recommendations. However, a Kano resident who identified as Hon. Red Pen on social media platform X later confirmed that the bill had been passed.
“The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a landmark bill approving Hausa as the primary language of instruction in all primary and junior secondary schools across the state. This policy aims to strengthen foundational learning and preserve the linguistic and cultural heritage.”