The University of Jos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticised the federal government's decision to reverse the mother-tongue policy in early childhood education. Jurbe Mwolwus, chairperson of ASUU at the university, made the remarks during a news conference in Jos on Monday. He described the shift to English as a retrogressive move that undermines previous research-based gains in education.
Mwolwus stated that using local languages in early learning aligns with best practices in countries like China, Russia, Japan and South Korea. He cited research indicating children under eight can learn six or more languages without affecting cognitive development. ASUU Jos urged the federal government to reverse its position to support effective early childhood education.
The union also opposed the government's plan to establish a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the Transnational Education (TNE) framework. Mwolwus said ASUU views TNE as a mechanism that could further weaken Nigeria's education system for the benefit of a few Nigerians and their foreign partners. Instead, he called for efforts to make Nigerian universities competitive enough to attract international students and retain local academic talent.
Mwolwus rejected the Federal Ministry of Education's proposal to eliminate certain university courses, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. He dismissed claims that such courses are irrelevant and contribute to unemployment as unfortunate. Every academic programme, he argued, contributes to skills like critical thinking, creativity, communication and digital literacy.
He questioned whether unemployment is exclusive to graduates of the humanities, noting that skills from these disciplines form the foundation of broader competencies. ASUU called on the government to support industrial growth and job creation rather than removing academic programmes. Mwolwus also urged an end to irregular appointments, financial mismanagement and violations of due process in universities.
Jurbe Mwolwus condemns the federal government's reversal of mother-tongue instruction while also opposing the Coventry University campus plan, yet offers no alternative model for improving education access or quality. His insistence on preserving all courses without addressing graduate employability outside academia creates a contradiction in policy priorities. The call to retain every programme clashes with the reality of limited university funding and shrinking job markets. Without a clear roadmap for institutional reform, the union's stance risks protecting academic structures over student outcomes.
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