UNICEF Urges Government, Stakeholders To Address Learning Crisis In Nigeria
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has called on government and stakeholders in the education sector in Nigeria to address the leaning crisis in the country.
UNICEF Education Specialist, Yetunde Oluwatosin made the call during a 2-day media dialogue on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) held in Benin City, Edo state.
The media dialogue was facilitated by UNICEF in collaboration of the Lagos State Directorate of National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Quoting data from National Bureau of Statistics (2021) and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Oluwatosin said the learning crises in Nigeria is stalling the nation's development.
Oluwatosin said 3 out of 4 children in Nigeria cannot read with meaning or solve simple mathematics problems.
She said only 73 per cent of Nigerian youth are literate and that only 7 per cent have ICT skills needed for working and living in a digital economy
Oluwatosin said as part of moves to address the situation, UNICEF was able to reach over 1.8 M children with learning materials between 2018-2022.
She said efforts are on top gear to tackle the challenge headlong. According to her "We aim to reach another 4.8 M by 2027, primarily in the North, and to ensure Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) are curriculum-aligned, high quality, and inclusive."
Oluwatosin said UNICEF is leveraging its ongoing engagement of community-based organizations such a High-level Women's Advocates, Mothers' Associations, traditional and religious leaders, and youth including the He-For-She and Girls-for-Girls to amplify national messages at the local level towards addressing the challenge of learning crisis.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairperson of Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Eyitayo Salami said the current administration in the state is committed to address Learning Poverty and Out-of-School-Children challenges.
She said the Edo state government through its accelerator program came up with a concept known as Edo best and it's yielding results as school enrolment is on the increase and the students are really leaning and gaining knowledge.
Some of the students of Samuel Ogbemudia Girls College in Benin, Edo state Jane Onyilamu and Freda Ogierhiakhi said they have improved in the academic activities beause of the teaching methods adopted by their teachers.
The Principal of Samuel Ogbemudia Girls College, Mrs Josephine Igbinedu said the state government provided enabling learning environment and that the teachers were monitored to ensure that they teach the students adequately.
She added that the School Based Management Committee (SBMC) is also collaborating with the school management to ensure efficiency while Parents/Teachers Conference also serves as an avenue to evaluate performance of the children and address any matter arising.
UNICEF Communication Officer, Blessing Ejiofor said all hands must be on deck to ensure that children attend schools, learn and become useful for themselves and the society when they grow up.