Pupils’ inability to read and write worries Plateau SUBEB boss

The Plateau state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has expressed disappointment over the “worsening illiteracy among pupils in public primary schools.”

“We have visited some primary schools and found that many of the pupils in the senior classes cannot read or write.

“Many of them cannot read basic books not to talk of writing letters,” its Chairman, Prof. Mathew Sule said on Tuesday in Jos.

He said that SUBEB had taken stringent measures to change the tide which he described as “embarrassing”.

“As part of efforts to change the situation, SUBEB has organised a 3-day training on `jolly phonics’ in Jos, for 700 teachers across the state,” he said.

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Sule explained that jolly phonics referred to a fun and child-centred approach to the teaching of literacy, using alphabet codes of English language.

“The strategy involves plays and dances; the idea is to help the children to playfully learn to pronounce, read and write,” he explained.

Pointing out that teachers were charged with transmitting knowledge, he noted that the workshop on jolly phonics would enhance their skills and fast track apt understanding and assimilation of the ‘read and write’ culture.

He said that the training was a Federal Government intervention to ensure that pupils could read and write at the foundation levels of education.

Sule particularly noted that quality education was key to the development of core values and integrity of young people.

“Quality education will address problems like dishonesty, abductions, corruption, prostitution and other nefarious acts because core values will be enshrined in the system,” he said.

Mr Nicholas Ochojila, the Training Manager of Universal Learning Solutions, handlers of the training said that the organisation was partnering with UK Jolly Learning for the exercise.

“Those being trained were selected based on their performance in the 2015 jolly phonics training; we want to establish a structure so that the training can trickle down long after we are gone,” he said.

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A participant, Mrs. Talatu Francis, from Jos Township Primary school, who spoke on the training, said that it had improved her pronunciation.

“Now, I can sing many songs with the sounds and alphabets,” she said.

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Source: Legit.ng