He noted that some parents and schools had relegated the use and teaching of local languages to the background, “seeing the use of foreign languages as a way of modernization”.

Mr Dzikunu made the call when the Desiadenyo Club in Ho donated a set of 120 Ewe textbooks and workbooks to Primary One and Two pupils of the Ho Polytechnic Basic Schools at a cost of 2,000 Ghana Cedis.

He said the gesture was to mark the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) International Language Day, and to encourage the use of the local dialect.

Mrs Beatrice Asor, Headmistress of the School, said the Club came to their aid when they learned that teaching and learning materials of the Ewe Language in the school were in short supply.

She said it was imperative for children to start learning and speaking in their local dialects before learning other languages.