Access Bank, institute extend literacy development to rural areas 

In a bid to extend literacy development to rural areas in Ondo State, 55 teachers, which cut across the 18 council areas of the state have been trained by the Institute of Learning and Skill Development (ILSD) Ltd/GTE to facilitate English Language literacy and proficiency across the nooks and crannies of the state.

The learners are among the 1,218 primary One Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) teachers, trained under the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Teacher Professional Development (TPD) Fund, who distinguished themselves in previous trainings, leading to selection of three from each of the councils, with six pilot teachers.

The training, held in Akure on Thursday, with the theme: “Training of Teacher Leaders for Literacy Development,” in partnership with Access Bank Plc, according to the ISLD Chief Responsibility Officer and Facilitator, Dr. Olubusola Eishet, would help the “Teacher Leaders” in the bid to widen their scope in various villages and communities.

She noted that the beneficiaries would expand the monitoring and assessment coverage in their various councils, thereby complementing the efforts of ILSD and SUBEB team, especially in places where there are noticeable climate and topological challenges.

According to Eshiet, whose main research interest is Using Synthetic Phonics as a tool for improving the Reading Skills of Pupils, the training would further improve on the standard of reading, writing and comprehension of English Language among pupils through the Jolly Phonics method, a method that incorporates fun into learning.

Eishet, who stated that the partnership with Access Bank Plc, has helped in the training of the teachers, as well as, generous supply of story books to pupils in the schools, where ‘teachers leaders’ are drawn from.

While noting that teaching of English Language to beginners using the Synthetic Phonics method brings harmony to the teaching of English and the indigenous languages, thereby promoting the national language policy, she added that teaching beginners by using the sounds of English helps to give similar values to letters in both English and local language classrooms.

The Executive Director of the institute, Mr. Emmanuel and the SUBEB Director of Jolly Phonics in the state, Mrs. Ibiyemi Bode-Betiku, lauded the trainees for their outstanding performance, commitment and passion for literacy development.

One of the trainees, Mr. Adebayo Oluwadamilare, from Caring Heart Mega Primary School, Igbokoda, Ilaje local government area, explained that Jolly Phonics has maximally aided the pupils and teachers in literacy skills.