Understanding the Impediments to Effective Teaching and Learning of Arabic Studies in Nigerian Schools

Abstract

It will be recalled that before the advent of western education in Nigeria, the two noticeable forms of education were the traditional education and Arabic and Islamic education. Arabic Language had played and still capable of playing great role in our educational and intellectual development considering its use and spread. The language remains the most widely spoken “foreign” language in Nigeria probably next to English as not less than 70million Nigerians speak it passively or actively. However, government recognition of this has been very slow. It is noteworthy that many problems have beleaguered the effective teaching and learning of the Arabic language and literature in Nigerian schools. The problems are not peculiar to a particular level or stage of our educational system but to all the levels from primary to tertiary. This paper is aim at identifying some of these problems and offers modest suggestions aimed at overcoming the problems. Some of the problems includes; The Attitude of Muslims and Nigerian Government towards Arabic, Misconception about the Arabic Language, Unavailability of Suitable Textbooks, Lack of Instructional Materials, Location of Departments, Poor Staffing of Arabic Units, Inadequacy of Competent Teachers, Teaching Arabic with English, Environmental Hindrances, Mother-Tongue Interference, The Syllabus/Curriculum, Admission. The methods adopted are historical and analytical. Modest suggestions aimed at overcoming the problems were analysed.

Keyword: Arabic Studies, Effective, Islam, Nigeria, Problems.

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/97-06

Publication date:June 30^th 2023