In March 2025, Niger changed its official language from French to Hausa. This move was part of a larger effort to break from its colonial past and build national pride. Only 13% of Nigeriens speak French, while nearly half speak Hausa, making the change popular among many citizens. However, this sudden shift brings major challenges to the education system. For many years, French was the main language used in schools, especially in universities. Textbooks, exams, and lessons were all in French. Changing to Hausa means teachers need new training, and new materials must be created. Students and teachers may struggle to adjust, especially in higher education. Without careful planning, the quality of education may drop, and more students could fall behind or leave school. While local languages can help younger children learn better, a fast switch without enough support creates barriers and risks harming the future of Niger’s education system.
Pray for wise counsel for the Nigerian authorities to implement the official language shift in the education system properly without compromising the quality of education (The Holy Bible, Psalm 124:8).
Pray for quality education for all the children in Niger. Pray for all the Nigerien children to have access to the Gospel through all the available Christian resources in the nation’s official language (The Holy Bible, Acts 17:27).
News Source: Global Voices
Image Source: Canva
