The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, has said Nigeria is experiencing a severe learning crisis that requires immediate action to address.

Speaking at the opening session of a two-day stakeholder Dialogue on Reading Initiative in the UBE Programme and the Use of Mother Tongue/Language of Immediate Environment as Medium of Instruction on Monday in Abuja, Bobboyi stressed that if the learning crisis is not immediately addressed, it would hinder Nigeria from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.

Galaxy TV News reports that the UBEC boss, who cited a report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, and the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said approximately three out of four children of basic education age, 6 to14 years, in Nigeria cannot read a text with understanding, or solve simple mathematics problems.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders at the dialogue to frankly discuss and come up with actionable steps, that will not only help UBEC but all stakeholders in ameliorating the situation

In a keynote address, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, Prof Ismail Junaidu, called for the implementation of the National Language Policy.
Junaidu While stating that no language should be left out, said over 60 language autography, or writing systems, have been developed, adding that after developing their autography, the curriculum for teaching the language needs to be developed also for implementation.

Other stakeholders called on relevant bodies to intensify sensitization, produce more instructional materials, build capacity of teachers and implementing partners, as well as ensure partnership between agencies and development partners for proper implementation of the policy.