The State Universal Basic Education Board (Kogi SUBEB), in partnership with Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and Universal Learning Solutions (ULS) UK, has commenced the training of over 1,250 teachers in the use of the Jolly Phonics programme for teaching reading and writing.

The one-week training is for public primary school teachers in the state under the Teachers Professional Development Programme of UBEC.

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

While flagging off the training that commenced on Monday, the Executive Chairman of KogiSUBEB, Abdulrasaq Yusuf, said the annual training, which started about a decade ago, has equipped teachers to enhance the writing and reading skills of pupils across Kogi State and beyond.

Yusuf, who was represented by KogiSUBEB’s Director, Teacher Professional Development (TPD), Victoria Daniel, commended UBEC and KogiSUBEB for introducing Jolly Phonics into the curriculum of pupils in public primary schools in the state.

According to him, the programme has helped children to read, write, and communicate fluently since its introduction by KogiSUBEB 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.

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

To make it more impactful, the chairman of the KogiSUBEB 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 ULS [UK], Gary Foxcroft, highlighted the effectiveness of the Jolly Phonics programme, noting that it is not only fun and interactive but also rooted in the systematic synthetic phonics methodology.

Represented by the ULS Country Director, Patrick Uzu, the ULS boss 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 child-centered approaches and quick impact on reading skills.

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

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

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 and the Federal Capital Territory.