The Federal Government has revived its partnership with a private firm to address literacy gaps in Nigerian schools by enhancing reading instruction in Colleges of Education.
Through the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), the collaboration aims to promote structured phonics-based reading methods among teacher educators nationwide.
The renewed partnership, as announced by Universal Learning Solutions, follows the signing of a revised Memorandum of Understanding between the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the firm in Abuja.
This initiative prioritizes training lecturers and teacher trainers in Colleges of Education on systematic synthetic phonics, a proven method for teaching early reading, aiming to enhance trainee teachers’ literacy instruction skills.
The partnership between NCCE and Universal Learning Solutions dates back to 2013, when it commenced with training sessions for directors and desk officers within the Commission on the fundamentals of synthetic phonics, laying the groundwork for subsequent expansions of the programme.
The initiative gained momentum in 2016 with a pilot project involving six Colleges of Education across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, targeting academics and students.
This pilot aimed to enhance teacher educators’ capabilities and align teacher training with global best practices in early literacy instruction, ultimately benefiting future teachers.
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In 2016, the partnership was formalized through an MoU, leading to the integration of phonics-based reading instruction into Nigeria’s teacher education standards.
Now, under the renewed partnership, Universal Learning Solutions proposes a new phase focusing on capacity-building for lecturers in Colleges of Education, in collaboration with the Committee of Provosts. This phase aims to enhance expertise in synthetic phonics, standardize literacy instruction, and boost teacher preparation nationwide.
Gary Foxcroft, CEO of Universal Learning Solutions, praised NCCE’s leadership for driving the collaboration to improve reading instruction and teacher education. Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, NCCE’s Executive Secretary, expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to boost teacher training and literacy outcomes.
The statement noted that, “Over the past decade, the partnership between ULS and NCCE has demonstrated the power of institutional collaboration in driving educational reform. By investing in teacher educators and aligning with national standards, the initiative supports long-term transformation in how reading is taught across Nigeria”
