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THE Federal Government says it has provided a guaranteed additional access to adult and non-formal education programmes in 377 centres across the 36 states and FCT.
The Federal Government said this additional access was done in its determination to increase awareness about the diverse literacy learning spaces.
The Minister of State for Education, Mr Goodluck Opiah made this known at a news conference on the 2022 International Literacy Day (ILD) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The theme of this year’s celebration is: “Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces; Exploring Opportunities and Possibilities”.
Opiah said the government had also empowered graduates of Basic Literacy and Vocational Programmes with skills and income generating equipment in three major trades.
According to him, the current statistics shows that there is a significant reduction in the non-literate population due to successes recorded by the government.
“It is heart-warming to note that the current statistics of 2022 based on estimations, captured the non-literate population at about 31 per cent of the estimated total population.
“This is a significant reduction from the hitherto statistics of 38 per cent in 2015. I want to reiterate government’s commitment to continually adopt existing and emerging transformation innovations in the literacy learning spaces.”
“Indeed, our agenda for the year is premised on concerted efforts geared towards the creation of learner-centric learning spaces, even as we strive to connect the learning pathways between informal, non-formal and formal education systems.
“And account for the literacy learning outcomes that take place in unconventional spaces,” he said.
Opiah, therefore, said that the council had adopted a holistic approach that involved all key stakeholders in meeting the learning needs of youths and adults of different profiles and in different environments.
He also promised that the ministry would continue to leverage on the existing progress and transformation in the development of literacy learning spaces, while setting the stage for lifelong learning of the Nigerian adults and youths.
Earlier, the Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Ms Audrey Azoulay called on all actors in the field of education to re-think the role of literacy.
Azoulay, represented by the UNESCO Regional Advisor for Education, Mr Albert Mendy said that UNESCO had emphasised the need for more investment in education and increased international aid to achieve the SDG 2030 targets.
“In 1979, only 68 per cent of the world’s population knew how to read and write. In 2020, this figure had risen to 86.7 per cent.
“In spite of this progress, 771 million youths and adults around the world still do not possess basic literacy skills, 60 per cent of whom are girls and women,” she said.
UNESCO on Oct.26, 1966, at the 14th session of the General Conference, declared Sept.8, every year as International Literacy Day. It was celebrated for the first time in 1967. (NAN)
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Tags: Albert Mendy Audrey Azoulay Goodluck Opiah International Literacy Day UNESCO
