Stop obsessing over English: Focus on what in point of fact issues – Life Pulse Daily

Introduction

Every few years, a fresh report lands on the desks of policymakers and media desks across Africa, sparking a predictable wave of national self-doubt. The latest iteration? Nigeria has outperformed Ghana in the EF English Proficiency Index. The reaction? Headlines lamenting a “national disaster” and calls for urgent reforms to improve English teaching. But here’s a radical question: Should we really measure national worth by how well our citizens speak someone else’s language?

This obsession with English fluency as a yardstick for progress is not only misplaced—it’s actively harmful. It distracts from the tangible skills that actually build economies and improve lives. While we debate grammar and accents, other nations focus on creating value, solving problems, and delivering results. This article argues for a shift in perspective: from language proficiency to practical proficiency, from eloquence to effectiveness.

Key Points

Background

What Is the EF English Proficiency Index?

The EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) is an annual ranking published by Education First, a global education company. It ranks countries and regions by the average English skills of adults who took the EF Standard English Test. While widely cited, the index has limitations: it relies on self-selected test-takers, often from urban, educated populations, and does not account for economic output, innovation, or quality of life.

Why the Index Gains Traction

The index gains attention because English is often seen as a gateway to global opportunities. In post-colonial societies like Ghana, language proficiency is sometimes equated with intelligence, modernity, or development. Media outlets amplify these rankings, framing them as measures of national competence. This creates pressure on governments to prioritize English teaching over other critical areas.

The Nigerian-Ghanaian Context

The recent report showing Nigeria ahead of Ghana in English proficiency has reignited debates about education quality. However, this comparison often ignores broader economic and social indicators. Nigeria, despite higher English scores, faces significant challenges in infrastructure, healthcare, and industrialization. Ghana, meanwhile, has made steady progress in governance, digital innovation, and renewable energy—none of which are captured by language tests.

Analysis

The Myth of Language as a Development Indicator

Fluency in English does not correlate directly with economic strength, technological advancement, or social well-being. Consider Cuba: its doctors provide world-class care with limited English skills. Or China: its engineers build infrastructure across Africa, often communicating in basic English or through interpreters. What matters is their expertise, not their accent.

Language is a tool, not an end. When we treat English fluency as a primary goal, we risk neglecting more impactful skills. A fluent speaker who cannot fix a broken machine, design a bridge, or code a software application contributes less to national development than a skilled technician who speaks little English but delivers results.

The Value of Vocational and Technical Skills

Vocational education and technical training are the backbone of functional economies. Countries with strong manufacturing, construction, and service sectors invest heavily in these areas. Germany’s dual education system, for example, combines classroom learning with on-the-job training, producing a highly skilled workforce that drives innovation and exports.

In contrast, many African education systems prioritize academic learning over practical skills. This creates a mismatch: graduates with degrees but no employable skills, and industries struggling to find qualified workers. The result is unemployment, underdevelopment, and continued reliance on foreign expertise.

Global Examples of Practical Proficiency

Take the case of a Chinese PhD graduate in Material Engineering who studied at Oxford. His value lies not in his English accent, but in his ability to develop new materials that improve technology, healthcare, or infrastructure. Similarly, a Cuban doctor treating patients in Ghana may struggle with English idioms, but their medical knowledge saves lives.

Even in everyday life, we prioritize function over fluency. Would you hire a plumber who speaks perfect English but leaks your pipes? Or one who speaks no English but guarantees a leak-free installation? The answer is obvious: we value competence over conversation.

The Cost of Linguistic Obsession

When governments and media frame English proficiency as a crisis, they send a message that local knowledge and skills are secondary. This erodes cultural confidence and discourages investment in本土 (local) industries. It also skews education policy, leading to curriculum changes that favor language drills over science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Moreover, this obsession can be elitist. English fluency often correlates with access to private education and urban privilege. Measuring national progress by this standard marginalizes rural communities and vocational professionals who contribute significantly to the economy but may not speak English fluently.

Practical Advice

For Policymakers

Rebalance Education Priorities: Allocate more resources to technical and vocational education. Establish partnerships between schools and industries to ensure training meets market needs.

Integrate Language with Skills: Teach English in context—through engineering, healthcare, or agriculture courses—rather than in isolation. This makes language learning more relevant and effective.

Invest in Local Innovation: Fund research and development in areas that address local challenges, such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and affordable housing.

For Educators

Promote Project-Based Learning: Shift from rote memorization to hands-on projects that develop problem-solving and collaboration skills.

Value All Forms of Intelligence: Recognize and reward technical aptitude, creativity, and practical wisdom alongside academic achievement.

Use English as a Tool: Incorporate English into science labs, workshops, and fieldwork rather than treating it as a separate subject.

For Parents and Students

Explore Vocational Paths: Consider technical schools, apprenticeships, and certification programs as viable and prestigious career options.

Focus on Problem-Solving: Encourage curiosity, experimentation, and real-world application of knowledge.

Use Language Purposefully: Learn English to access information, collaborate globally, and share local innovations—not just to pass exams.

For Media and Influencers

Highlight Local Heroes: Feature stories of engineers, farmers, artisans, and healthcare workers who solve problems and create value.

Question Rankings: Provide context when reporting on international indices. Ask: What do these rankings measure? What do they ignore?

Promote Balanced Narratives: Avoid framing language skills as the primary indicator of national progress.

FAQ

Conclusion

The debate over English proficiency rankings misses the point. National progress is not measured by how well we speak someone else’s language, but by how well we solve our own problems, build our own industries, and improve our own lives. Ghana—and any nation seeking genuine development—should focus on empowering its people with practical skills, technical knowledge, and the confidence to innovate.

Let us celebrate the engineer who designs a solar-powered irrigation system, the farmer who adopts sustainable practices, and the nurse who delivers care in any language. These are the true indicators of progress. Fluency is useful, but function is fundamental. It is time to stop obsessing over English and start focusing on what actually matters.