By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi Government on Thursday, says it is focusing attention on mass literacy as well as adult and non-formal education to reduce high illiteracy level in the state.
Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, gave the assurance at a “Work Meeting’’ held with school principals in Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state.
Osikoya said that adult and non formal education or mass literacy “which is basically on how to read and write, has not been functioning effectively in Kogi.”
She said the state government had made ample provision for mass literacy in the 2019 education budget to make the agency function well.
“The provision in the budget is that, every local government area will have three centres; one per district that will graduate students quarterly according to the new policy guidelines on mass literacy.
“We will bring principals, teachers and other relevant stakeholders on board to teach at the mass literacy education centres,’’ she said.
She urged all principals to send their staff nominal roll to the ministry to capture serial number, staff name, date of birth, employment date, current grade level, qualifications and subjects.
She said that students’ information in schools should also be sent to the ministry, adding that teachers’ recruitment in 2019 would be based on ‘need assessment’.
“The need assessment is what will guide the state government in the actual recruitment of teachers,’’ Osikoya said.
According to her, the state government has also planned some interventions in schools, in terms of infrastructure, minimum condition for learning aids, curriculum, teachers and classroom, to be put in place.
Mr Ejiga Ojo, the Acting Executive Director, Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE), thanked the state government for its plan to restore education in the state back to its proper footing, especially the adult learners.
Ojo said the plan by the state government to increase 2019 education budget to 15 per cent was a welcome development.
“We at the ANNFE will make sure that government’s goals, concerning mass literacy are achieved.
“We urge government to provide the necessary tools, teachers and mobility to enable us perform effectively,” Ojo said.
He also said that the agency had some programmes on ground in mass literacy, such as: Basic literacy, Post literacy, Vocational and skills acquisition centres, among others.
(NAN)
