Our goal is for every Edo child to be able to read and write

As part of the renewed drive to consolidate on reforms in the basic education sector, the Edo State Government will ramp up community engagement and extra-curricular activities in public schools across the state in 2021 Obaland magazine learnd.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, the Executive Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Joan Osa Oviawe, said the state government plans to improve literacy and numeracy skills among pupils in public schools.

She said: “For 2021, we are setting a target for illiteracy and numeracy. Recently, we were fortunate to be selected among the four other countries who were adjudged to be accelerator countries. We were the only state selected. It was a World Bank and Bill Gates Foundation initiative. As an accelerator country, we have been identified as one of the four places in Africa where we are trying to eradicate learning poverty.

“Learning poverty means a child of 10 years that is supposed to know how to read, but doesn’t know how to read. So, in 2021, our goal is to strengthen community engagement around our schools.”

She added: “We also want parents to do their best and for communities to get involved in our schools.

In 2021, we want to strengthen our school-based management committees, increase the number of people that are engaged academically and also roll out extra-curricular activities, such as inter-house sport, and introduce school clubs and excursions.”

Oviawe added, “Our goal is to have at least 98 per cent literacy rate in our public schools including among persons with special needs. So, our goal is for every Edo child to be able to read and write.”