The impact of mother tongue on learning
Numerous studies show that children who first learn in their mother tongue better grasp academic concepts and achieve better long-term results. In Benin, where the debate over the quality of education remains a pressing issue, the question of using local languages in the school system is becoming increasingly urgent in a context marked by learning difficulties, particularly at the elementary level.
“Children learn best in the language they understand best.” This statement by sociologist Charlemagne DOSSOU frequently comes up in academic discussions and conferences on pedagogy in Francophone Africa.
It sums up one of the major challenges facing Benin’s education system: the linguistic disconnect between the family environment and the school setting. Most children grow up in homes where Fon, Mina, Yoruba, Baatonou, or other local languages are spoken daily. Yet, as soon as they enter the classroom, all their learning takes place in French.
This abrupt linguistic shift directly impacts academic performance. Many students enter first grade without mastering French but are immediately subjected to assessments and instructions exclusively in that language. According to experts, this disparity partly explains the early academic failure observed during the first years of elementary school.
Psychologist Célestine KISSA explains that “the mother tongue is a child’s very first cognitive and emotional anchor.” It structures their thinking, influences their perception of the world, and shapes their logic.
When schools introduce a foreign language as the primary medium of instruction, children find themselves in a situation of linguistic insecurity, which reduces their attention span, motivation, and ability to grasp new concepts. For the expert, this is not merely an educational problem but also a psychological issue.
In Benin, several pilot initiatives have attempted to experiment with bilingual education. In certain schools in Abomey, Kétou, Comè, Djougou, and in some rural areas, classes have been authorized to incorporate the mother tongue when explaining basic concepts. “Fon” or “Mina” have been used to introduce vocabulary, explain instructions, and illustrate simple calculations.
A cultural issue, but also a social one…
The results are encouraging, as evidenced by students being more active in class, better immediate comprehension, rapid progress in reading, lower absenteeism, and, above all, improved communication between teachers and parents. In some schools in Kétou, for example, the use of Yoruba has enabled students who were falling behind to improve their performance in math and science.
“Children explain their answers with more confidence when they are allowed to use their own language,” says a teacher who participated in the pilot program. The mother tongue conveys cultural values and references to everyday life. When teaching the concept of sharing, it is easier for a child to connect it to a situation experienced in their family environment if the example is presented in their own language.
For experts, this connection nurtures what psychologists call emotional memory, which makes learning more lasting. According to educator Adeyemi Kehinde, “a child who thinks in their mother tongue processes information faster, because language serves as a channel for symbolizing reality.” This process facilitates the acquisition of a second language, particularly French, which builds upon an already established foundation.
Resistance persists…
Despite the proven benefits, there is still no consensus on the educational use of the mother tongue. Some parents worry that early learning in local languages will delay mastery of French. For sociologist Charlemagne Dossou, this perception stems from a colonial legacy that associates the French language with social advancement. However, research shows the opposite.
Learning first in one’s mother tongue actually helps students speak and write French better later on. Far from being an academic barrier, the mother tongue is now seen as a strategic lever for raising educational standards. It provides a solid foundation upon which all learning is built.
The mother tongue, far from being a static tool of identity, is an educational springboard that allows children to learn more quickly and with confidence, and to build a more solid foundation for their academic future. It represents a major asset that the Beninese education system would benefit from valuing more highly.