UBEC Moves To Boost Teaching Skills Of Oyo Teachers

As part of measures to further promote skills acquisition among teachers in the country,
the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in collaboration with Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Universal Learning Solutions (ULS) has organized a 6-Day training for Oyo State Public Primary School Teachers on Jolly Phonics under the Teacher Professional Development Programme (TPD) of UBEB.

Speaking at the 6-day training, the Executive Chairman of Oyo SUBEB, Dr Nureni Adeniran said the annual training which started a decade ago was aimed at equipping teachers to boost the writing and reading skills of pupils across Oyo state and beyond.

Dr Adeniran who was represented by the Oyo SUBEB Director of School Services, Mrs Kehinde Adeyomoye explained that the training was targeted at ensuring that teachers in public primary schools in Oyo State deliver literacy teaching using global best practices for sustainable teaching and learning in partnership with UBEC, and Universal Learning Solutions, ULS [UK] through the use of Jolly Phonics programme for teaching reading and writing.

“Jolly Phonics is a systematic synthetic phonics method of teaching that combines stories, the sounds of the alphabets, actions, music, and songs, in teaching to make learning more interactive, comprehensible, and enjoyable.”

“I commended UBEC and Oyo SUBEB for introducing Jolly Phonics into the curriculum of pupils in public primary schools in the state.
because the programme has helped children to read, write, and communicate fluently since its introduction by Oyo SUBEB into the curriculum of teaching at the basic level in the state.”

He added that it has contributed immensely to improving the writing and reading skills of teachers as well as their pupils through a logical sequence, helping pupils and students build on prior knowledge and grasp new concepts easily.

Dr. Adeniran stressed that in addition to its interactive nature, Jolly Phonics is equally an engaging and enjoyable multi-sensory, incorporating actions, songs, and stories, making learning memorable for the learners.

He emphasized that the principles used in Jolly Phonics enhances and boost teaching confidence among teachers, enabling them to deliver effectively on their mandate as teachers.

“To make the Jolly Phonics programme more impactful, the Chairman of Oyo SUBEB underscored the need to integrate more technology into the programme to enhance the teaching pedagogies, the need for continuous assessment, learners’ tracking, and feedback, and parental involvement in teaching modules.”

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Universal Learning Solution ULS [UK], Mr Gary Foxcroft, highlighted the effectiveness of the Jolly Phonics programme, noting its fun and interactive approach, rooted in the systematic synthetic phonics methodology, which has helped many teachers and learners across the world.

Mr Foxcroft who was Represented by the ULS Country Director, Patrick Uzu, described Jolly Phonics as a globally recognized brand, saying it is the best for equipping children with essential reading and writing skills because of its children – centered approaches and quick impact on reading skills.

According to him, the positive impact of the Jolly Phonics programme in Oyo State can be seen through the improved literacy levels within public primary schools over the few years that it was introduced in the state.

“He believes the project offers a wonderful chance for all children in Oyo State to learn to read and write, thereby fostering greater equity and equal opportunities.”

Mr Gary also acknowledged the continuous support of UBEC for the use of the Jolly Phonics programme in public primary schools, which has made it a household brand in the education sector in Nigeria, adding that this support has enabled Jolly Phonics to be implemented in all 36 states including the FCT.

Ene Idoko, Edited By Grace Namiji