1
ABUJA – The Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in conjunction with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Universal Learning Solutions (ULS) have organised a three-day training for public primary school teachers in Edo state on jolly phonics to aid 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.
It is a part of the Teachers Professional Development Programme of UBEC.
According to the organizers; the Edo State Universal Basic Basic Education Board, in partnership with UBEC, and Universal Learning Solutions (UK), the 3-day training programme is aimed at ensuring that teachers in public primary schools in Edo State are delivering literacy teaching using global best practices for sustainable teaching and learning.
Executive Chairman of Edo SUBEB, Honourable Ebanehita Sonia Omonzane, while flagging off the three-day training, whih commenced on August 18, and will end on Wednesday 20th August 2025, said the annual training started about a decade ago.
Hon. Omonzane disclosed that the programme has equipped teachers to enhance the writing and reading skills of pupils across Edo State and beyond.
The Executive Chairman, who was represented by Edo SUBEB’s Secretary, Barrister Mrs. Oluku Beatrice Ada, commended UBEC and Edo SUBEB for introducing jolly phonics into the curriculum of pupils in public primary schools in the state.
According to Hon. Omonzane, the programme has helped children to read, write, and communicate fluently since its introduction by EdoSUBEB into the curriculum of teaching at the basic level in the state.
She noted that the training programme has contributed in great deal towards 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.
To make the jolly phonics programme more impactful, the Edo SUBEB Chairman stressed 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, etc.
Further, Hon. Omonzane hinted that in addition to its interactive nature, jolly phonics is equally engaging and enjoyable because it is multi-sensory, incorporating actions, songs, and stories, making learning enjoyable and memorable for the learners.
She 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.
Earlier, Gary Foxcroft, the Chief Executive Officer of ULS (UK), spoke on the effectiveness of the jolly phonics programme, noting its fun and interactive approach, rooted in the systematic synthetic phonics methodology, has endeared it to many teachers and learners across the world.
Represented by Patrick Uzu, ULS Country Director, 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 children-centered approaches and quick impact on reading skills.
Gary stated the project offers a wonderful chance for all children in Edo State to learn to read and write, thereby fostering greater equity and equal opportunities.
He acknowledged the continuous support of UBEC for the use of the jolly phonics programme in public primary schools, which he said has made it a household brand in the education sector in Nigeria, adding that the support has enabled Jolly Phonics to be implemented in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The positive impacts of the jolly phonics programme in Edo State, Gary said, can be seen through the improved literacy levels within public primary schools over the few years that it was introduced in the state.