Int’l Literacy Day: We’re tackling foundational illiteracy, unlocking educational potential of Edo children, says Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government is tackling foundational illiteracy, improving learning outcomes and harnessing the educational potential of children in the State through the State’s Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme and other reforms in the State’s education sector.

The governor said this in commemoration of the 2023 International Literacy Day (ILD) marked by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and other sister agencies, with the theme, “Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies.”

The governor, who noted the transformative role of education and literacy in the advancement and growth of society, reassured that his government will continue to deepen ongoing reforms in the state’s education sector, by ensuring the provision of the right infrastructure, technology and manpower to tackle learning deficit and facilitate improved access to quality education across the State.

According to Obaseki, this year’s celebration emphasises the role that literacy plays in achieving sustainable development and building more inclusive, peaceful and just societies. This is as he reiterates the need to strengthen efforts at achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on education and lifelong learning.

“As a government, we recognise the pivotal role that education and literacy play in societal advancement and this year’s International Literacy Day celebration provides a fine platform to review efforts and strengthen collaborations aimed at tackling learning poverty at all levels and ensuring improved access to quality education across board, guaranteeing that more children are adequately equipped with the skills, knowledge and tools to effectively contribute their quotas to societal development,” the governor said.

Obaseki, who stated that the government is focusing on basic education and restoring quality into its basic educational system, noted that children in primary schools in Edo State today now learn three times more than they used to learn with the old pedagogy.

He said the World Bank and other national and international agencies and organisations acknowledged this consequential progress in addressing Foundational Literacy and Numeracy defects in Edo students.

He stated, “We have sustained investment in the education sector over the past seven years, tackling foundational illiteracy, improving learning outcomes and harnessing the educational potential of children through the State’s Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme and other reforms in the State’s education sector.

“Edo today is ranked as one of the five nationals and sub-nationals in the world leading the charge in tackling learning poverty. We have the lowest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria on account of our reforms.”

The governor further noted that his government introduced and recruited teachers under the EdoStar Teaching Fellows Programme to ensure quality teaching and learning in public schools in the State, stressing, “We are deepening reforms in the state’s education sector, building the capacity of our teachers to domesticate the EdoBEST model, and upgrading physical infrastructure across schools in the State.”