The Issue Of Language In Guggisberg's Principle
One of the most outstanding Governors in the history of Ghana is Sir Gordon Guggisberg. He made significant contributions as far as the economic and social development of Ghana is concerned. His achievements cut across all spheres and dimension of the Ghanaian society. Guggisberg became a governor of Gold Coast from 1919-1927. Guggisberg joined the British army in 1889.
In order to improve education in the Gold Coast, Sir Gordon Guggisberg developed certain principles he deemed relevant to effect significant changes in the education sector. Guggisberg believed that reforms in the education sector has not been enough, effective, efficient and ineffective. Hence, the need for his 16 principles in the education sector. In order to give a legal backing to the principles, the legislative council passed the 1925 Education Ordinance.
We won't be discussing the 16 principles today. However, we will look at how he was able to put those principles into reality.
The 12th principle of Guggisberg laid emphasis on the need to use vernacular as a medium of instruction. This principle of Guggisberg was solidly based on the idea that for teaching to be effective, it must be from the known to the unknown. This idea of Guggisberg was given support from the Report of the Educationist Committee in 1920. The report indicated that English must be introduced as a subject of instruction whiles vernacular be used as the medium of instruction. Putting this into action, vernacular was used as a medium of instruction through all primary schools within Gold Coast with English Language being a subject of instruction. Also, Professor Westerman was invited by the governor to produce a script which might be used in common for the different local languages.
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