UNICEF: Boosting Learning Outcomes in Nigeria 

A two-day media workshop on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, held recently in Benin City by the United Nations Children’s Fund, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, Lagos State, and Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, is designed to reduce learning poverty and boost outcomes. Funmi Ogundare reports 

Reducing learning poverty in Nigeria was the focus of a two-day South-West media dialogue on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lagos State Directorate, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The programme, titled ‘Turning the Tide on Nigeria’s Learning Crisis’, was recently held in Benin City, Edo.

The presentations made by experts, especially from UNICEF and the State Universal Basic Education Board (EdoSUBEB), dwelt on ‘The Nigerian Learning Passport: An Innovative Learning Solution for Classrooms and at Home’, ‘ The Accelerator Programme in Edo State’, and Overview of FLP in Nigeria’.

Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, emphasised the different initiatives taken by the administration under the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBest) programme, saying it has enhanced learning in the state.

She commended UNICEF for its efforts in impacting children across the country.

She highlighted the state’s initiatives, such as mass literacy programmes, particularly targeting out-of-school populations and introducing technology into the education agenda by distributing learning tablets to students and teachers.

“We acknowledge all that UNICEF has been doing. On our part, we engage artisans under the mass literacy initiative and learning by correspondence to teach them how to read and write,” Oviawe stated. “We also introduced technology into our learning agenda and also distributed learning tablets for students and teachers to encourage them and ensure that learning activities are well structured and centralised.”

Reviewing foundational literacy and numeracy in the country, Education Specialist at UNICEF Nigeria, Yetunde Oluwatosin, revealed that 73 per cent of 10-year-old children in the country were struggling to read or comprehend simple text, and an alarming nine out of every 10 children in sub-Saharan were grappling with learning poverty.

She said amidst this scenario, only 63 per cent of five-year-olds categorised as the poorest, living in rural areas and the northern regions, participated in organised learning, adding that UNICEF was determined to expand the number of children with learning materials to 4.8 million by 2027.

The UNICEF education specialist expressed concern that three out of every four children in Nigeria could not read with comprehension or solve basic mathematical problems. 

Oluwatosin pointed out that while 73 per cent of Nigerian youths were literate, only seven per cent possessed the necessary ICT skills required for the digital economy. She attributed Nigeria’s learning crisis to limited infrastructure, shortage of qualified teachers, and insufficient learning data, particularly regarding proficiency levels.

She emphasised UNICEF’s efforts in enhancing the quality of teaching materials and providing over 1.8 million children with learning materials between 2018 and 2022.

In his paper, ‘Nigeria Learning Passport: An innovative learning solution for classrooms and at home’, education specialist at UNICEF, Nigeria, Babagana Aminu, canvassed adequate funding, resources from both the government and private sector, as well as technical support for teachers and schools as lasting solutions. 

UNICEF Communication Officer, Mrs. Blessing Ejiofor, appealed to the media to use their power to reduce learning poverty and influence positive policy from decision makers in favour of children.

“We recognise the fact that the media has the power to influence and trigger actions, policies and budget that will favour the children, being the idea behind the media dialogue,” she stated.

During the two-day programme, journalists took a tour of Samuel Ogbemudia Girls, College, Benin, one of the schools that has taken advantage of digital learning initiatives to enhance quality education in the state.

The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education (EdoSUBEB), Mrs. Eyitayo Salami, said the deployment of digital learning initiatives since introducing the EdoBEST programme had aligned with intelligence gathered through digital platforms.

“Prior to now, when we did not have accurate data, we had schools with more buildings than they actually needed and some with insufficient structures. So, with the current digital education system in the state, our data is guiding us to know the number of community schools in need and how many neighbouring schools are available,” stated Salami. “Our mandate is to ensure that the school enrollment is always on the increase, and it will always be a priority to us.”

A teacher in the school, Mrs Akintunde Osahi, stated that the platform has increased teachers’ commitment because of its tracking feature.

“I never liked teaching, but when I saw this programme online, I decided to apply and was interviewed,” stated Osahi. “Since I started teaching in the classroom, the way I see the children interact and respond using the platform made me love teaching.”

On the uniqueness of the platform, Osahi said, “It makes teaching fun. We are also able to manage our time, and punctuality is key, unlike when we were on the analogue system of teaching.”

She, however, appealed to the government to convert teachers on casual appointments to permanent jobs.

A JSS 2 student, Miss Jecinta Onyiloha, stated that the EdoBEST digital learning platform offers learning simplicity and improves students’ knowledge and performance, adding she has been using it for the last two years.

Principal of the college, Mrs Josephine Igbinidu, said the EdoBEST digital learning initiative has led to increased student enrollment across public schools in the state. It also allows parents to assess and monitor their children’s academic performance and progress seamlessly.

The digital learning device, she added, helps to deliver accurate content to the students within the reasonable timeframe allotted for each class.

“The School Base Management Committee (SBMC) and Parents Teachers Conference initiatives in the EdoBEST programme also give parents, teachers and other stakeholders an opportunity to meet regularly to address issues concerning the students and the school,” Igbinidu stated.

She urged the government to recruit more teachers into the scheme to balance the student-to-teacher ratio.