A prominent Nigerian academic has issued a warning over the widespread use of flawed grammar among schoolteachers, saying classroom errors related to verb usage are made every 16 minutes, based on her research.
Professor Roseline Adejare of Lagos State University (LASU) raised the concern during the university’s 107th inaugural lecture titled “Is, Was, Choose One: Exploration into the World of the English Verb and Other Aspects of English Grammar”.
She pointed out that verb group errors—including misuse of tenses, auxiliary verbs, and subject-verb agreement—have become endemic in Nigeria’s classrooms, contributing significantly to the overall decline in education standards.
“We are witnessing a systemic breakdown in how grammar is taught and learned,” said Prof. Adejare. “Many teachers lack the foundational knowledge necessary to instruct others because grammar itself is no longer a core focus of their training.”
The professor criticised the trend in academic circles to avoid grammar due to its complexity, favouring instead less technical areas such as discourse and sociolinguistics.
Prof. Adejare argued that reform is urgently needed in Bachelor of Arts and English Education programmes, including the introduction of compulsory language acquisition and grammar-focused research at all levels of study.
“Linguists must return to the roots—grammar is fundamental to communication,” she said. “Universities must ensure that English Language teachers are thoroughly prepared, and that course books are free from errors that confuse rather than educate.”
She also urged curriculum designers, teacher trainers, and educational institutions to collaborate in strengthening the grammatical competence of both educators and students.
During her lecture, Prof. Adejare defined language as a structured human tool of communication—emphasising the critical role grammar plays in shaping both written and spoken expression.
The event was attended by LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, alongside members of the university’s academic leadership.
