Gafar Alabi 

The Chairman of the Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, has underscored the importance of Jolly Phonics in public primary schools across the State, describing it as a practical skill that equips pupils with the ability to decode and pronounce words using letter sounds, thereby making reading easier at the early learning stage.

Ifede made this known during a 3-day capacity-building workshop jointly organised by Ogun SUBEB and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), at Imo Methodist Nursery and Primary School, Oke-Yeke, Abeokuta.

The workshop, themed “Improving Teachers’ Capacity and Competence in Teaching Phonics and Reading”, was designed to strengthen teachers’ skills in the teaching of phonics and reading.

He described the programme as a timely intervention to boost foundational literacy in basic schools across the state, noting that the Jolly Phonics approach, which emphasised phonemic awareness, has been proven effective in addressing reading difficulties among young learners.

“If you teach the pupils wrong pronunciation, they will carry that along with them. After this training, we are going to monitor you closely as you teach the pupils,” Ifede cautioned.

The SUBEB Chairman urged participants to treat the workshop as a valuable opportunity, pay close attention and apply the techniques to improve pupils’ reading, communication and handwriting skills. He further encouraged teachers to master proper pronunciation, cascade the training to colleagues and uphold professional conduct.

 “I am a beneficiary of what you are being taught today because I use it myself. It works, and I can confirm that to anybody. Knowing phonics is an asset,” he added.

Also speaking, Project Manager of Jolly Phonics in Ogun State, Mr. Seyi Alake, explained that the programme adopted a multi-sensory approach designed to help pupils read and write with confidence, using synthetic phonics. He urged teachers to ensure effective implementation of the method in their classrooms.

In her response on behalf of the participants, Mrs. Kudirat Jimoh-Taiwo of Our Lady of Apostles Nursery and Primary School, Ibara, Abeokuta South Local Government, commended the Board for organising the training, promising to cascade the knowledge gained to colleagues in their various schools.

The workshop was held simultaneously across the four divisions of Ogun State.