As part of continuous efforts at ensuring teachers in public primary schools in Lagos State are delivering literacy teaching and learning using global best practices, the State Universal Basic Basic Education Board, LASUBEB, in partnership with Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and Universal Learning Solutions, ULS [UK], has commenced the training of no less than 1,250 teachers in the use of Jolly Phonics techniques for teaching reading and writing.
Jolly Phonics is a systematic and synthetic phonics method of teaching that uses stories, sounds of the alphabets, actions, music, and songs, in teaching to make learning more interactive, comprehensible, and enjoyable.
Flagging off a six-day training that commenced from Monday, May 12 to Saturday, May 17, 2025, the Executive Chairman of LASUBEB, Dr. Hakeem Shittu, said the annual training, which started about a decade ago, has equipped teachers to enhance the writing and reading skills of pupils across Lagos State.
Dr. Shittu who was represented by the Board’s Director, Teacher Professional Development, TPD, Mrs Babarinde Olayemi Olufunke, commended UBEC and LASUBEB for introducing Jolly Phonics into the curriculum of pupils in public primary schools in the state because the programme has helped children to read, write and communicate fluently since its introduction.
Jolly phonics, he added, has contributed immensely to improving the writing and reading skills of teachers as well as their pupils through a logical sequence, helping pupils and students build on prior knowledge and grasp new concepts easily.
The LASUBEB boss who highlighted the interactive nature of Jolly phonics said it is equally engaging and enjoyable because it is multi-sensory, incorporating actions, songs, and stories, making learning enjoyable and memorable for the learners, adding that the principles used in technique enhances and boosts teachers confidence, enabling them to deliver effectively on their mandate.
To make the Jolly Phonics programme more impactful, the chairman of the LASUBEB underscored the need to integrate more technology into the programme to enhance the teaching pedagogies.
He also spoke on the need for continuous assessment, learners’ tracking, and feedback, and parental involvement in teaching modules, etc.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of ULS [UK], Gary Foxcroft said the effectiveness of the Jolly Phonics techniques in teaching, learning, writing, reading and speaking especially its interactive approach, has endeared it to many teachers and learners across the world.
The ULS CEO who was represented by the ULS Country Director, Patrick Uzu described Jolly Phonics as a globally recognized brand for teaching children on how to improve on their literacy, reading and writing skills because of its children-centered approaches and quick impact on reading skills.
While commending UBEC’S for its support to LASUBEB by introducing the modules into teaching and learning in the Public Primary Schools in the State, ULS boss enthused that tbe impact of Jolly phonics can be seen in the improved literacy levels within public primary schools since it was introduced almost ten years ago.
The impressive impact of the Jolly phonics systematic synthetic teaching method has made the programme a household brand in the education sector in Nigeria, hence it has been implemented in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
e-signed:
Prince Bolu Diesel
AJIJO, Anipr
Media Manager
