By Gafar Alabi

As part of efforts to strengthen the reading culture among pupils in Public Primary Schools across the State, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has concluded plans to introduce a dedicated reading period into schools’ timetables beginning from the next academic session.

Chairman of the Board, Evang. Olalekan Ifede, made this known during the continuation of the monitoring exercise at St. Paul’s Nursery and Primary School I, Ijoku, Sagamu. He explained that pupils would be grouped according to their reading abilities, while teachers would provide targeted support to improve their literacy skills.

Ifede, emphasised that the monitoring exercise was aimed at assessing pupils’ learning outcomes, evaluating the school environment and determining the level of compliance by teachers with established teaching guidelines.

“Every school we visited is doing well. However, in terms of learning outcomes, many teachers are not yet at the level we expect. While some are performing excellently well, others are still below average. To some extent, most schools have implemented what we asked them to do,’’ he said.

The SUBEB Boss advised teachers to put in more effort and devote adequate time to ensuring that pupils in public primary schools could read, write and communicate effectively.

Also speaking, Education Secretary, Yewa South Local Government Education Authority, Prince Rotimi Olaleye, said the management of the school was doing everything possible to ensure full compliance with the Board’s vision, particularly in improving pupils’ learning abilities, while promising further improvement.

In her remarks, Head teacher of Christ Church Primary School, Ilaro, Mrs. Foluke Olurin, appreciated SUBEB monitoring team for the visit and assured that efforts would be intensified to improve pupils’ reading culture.

Other schools visited during the monitoring exercise included; Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta South; Community Primary School, Oke-Lantoro; Salvation Army Primary School, Iperu-Remo; St. Saviour’s  Anglican Primary School, Ikenne-Remo; St. Jude’s Anglican Primary School, Ijesha-Ijebu; CAC Primary School, Molipa, Ijebu-Ode; African Church Nursery and Primary School, Ijoku, Sagamu; Wesley Nursery and Primary School, Sotubo, Sagamu; St. John’s Anglican Nursery and Primary Schools I, II and III, Ogijo, Sagamu; United African Methodist Church (Eleja) School I, Ibese, Yewa North; African Nursery and Primary School, Babalawo, Ewekoro Local Government; Ansar-ud-Deen Nursery and Primary School, Onigbedu and African Church Nursery and Primary School, Olujobi, Ewekoro Local Government, among others.