By Mariam Abeeb
In an effort to further improve ‘Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)’, the Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has inaugurated the Kaduna Literacy and Numeracy Accelerator (KALINA).
KALINA is aimed at improving the learning outcomes of primary school pupils in the state, and also serves as a platform for coordinating FLN programmes in the state.
It is also part of the state government’s efforts to address the learning gaps in its education system, where it would focus on providing high-quality teacher training, and community engagement.
Sani, represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Muhammad Bello, inaugurated KALINA at a two-day seminar, which began , organised by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
The seminar was supported by the partners on the FLN, that included: UNICEF, British Council, Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria and Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Africa, among others.
The theme of the seminar was “Supporting the Sustain Agenda to Resolve the Learning Crisis in the State”.
Speaking at the seminar, Sani emphasised the critical role of literacy and numeracy skills in driving economic growth and development.
He equally said KALINA would enhance the literacy and numeracy skills of primary school pupils, thereby providing them with a strong foundation for future academic success.
Sani said that KALINA was part of his administration’s comprehensive strategy to address the learning gaps in the state’s education system.
He charged the implementation team to work tirelessly to ensure its success, leveraging technology and innovative approaches to reach vulnerable children.
“With the inauguration of KALINA, we are committed to education and determined to leave a lasting legacy in the sector in Kaduna State,”he said
Earlier, one of the FLN partners, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, Gerida Birukila, said Nigeria was currently facing a deep learning crisis, with children from poor households and rural areas being the most affected.
Birukila, represented by Mr Bala Dada, the Education Officer, UNICEF Kaduna, said schooling does not equate to learning.
She stated that the 2022 Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics survey found a learning poverty rate of 74.7 per cent.
”This means children who cannot read and understand a simple story or perform simple mathematics by the end of primary school.
”If the current trend continues, the children will be denied education.
”Thereby, setting in motion a life of missed opportunities including the chance to develop the transferable, digital and job-specific skills they need to break cycles of intergenerational poverty,”she said.
Birukila lamented that in spite of the efforts by the Nigerian government, donors, and other stakeholders, the problem of non-learning in schools was still persisting.
According to her, the situation is made worse by poverty, conflicts, displacements, remoteness, poor access to learning resources and in the recent past, the COVID-19 pandemic.
She, however, said that while the numbers were disturbing, all hope was not lost.
Birukila said, “UNICEF has been supporting state governments to implement effective evidence-based programmes to strengthen FLN skills such as a play based Early Childhood Education for pre-primary learners.
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