The Chief of Field Office, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Maiduguri Phuong Nguyen has raised the alarm that no fewer than 1.6 million children are out of school in the North East.
Nguyen, who disclosed a Seminar Foundation Literacy and Numeracy in North-East held in Maiduguri on Wednesday, explained that UNICEF remains committed to accelerating education delivery in Nigeria.
“At least 1.6 million children are out of school in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States. Of those in school, 72% cannot read a simple text after grade 6. Without acquiring appropriate foundational and transferable skills, children fail to thrive in school and life.
“Addressing the learning crises in the North-East, and Nigeria as a whole, requires us to examine the evidence of what works, and explore partnerships with the State, NGOs, development partners, and communities.
“This seminar provides us with a platform to share evidence, experiences and to renew our commitment to improving learning outcomes of schoolgirls and boys,” she said.
Nguyen assured that UNICEF would convene practitioners and experts, government officials, and civil society to discuss how best Nigeria can foster Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) with a particular focus on Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), Kanuri, Arithmetic, and Reading Intervention (KARI), Reading and Numeracy Activity (RANA) and the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP).
“The seminar is aimed at promoting awareness of FLN models and lessons from the implementation of fundamental learning programs in the North East with special consideration of the ongoing humanitarian-development nexus in the region,” she added.
She stressed the need for cooperation among the government, UNICEF, donor agencies, and other development partners who are excited to share innovative methods learned from the implementation of these programs in the region.
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