23rd October, 2015
UNESCO has commenced the translation of the Literacy by Radio Learner’s Primer into four local languages, to revitalise adult and youth education in Nigeria.
Mrs Alice Ateh-Abang, the Project Coordinator, identified the four languages as Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba and Kana.
Making this known at a two-day critique meeting on Thursday in Abuja, she said that UNESCO Nigeria conceived the idea of literacy by radio in 2004.
According to her, this was sequel to literacy survey which revealed that Nigeria had a very high illiteracy rate of 51 per cent.
She said that for Nigeria to move at a greater pace in its efforts to reduce illiteracy, the available alternative was for Nigerians to start learning and writing throughout the country.
She said this could only be achieved through the radio, which was affordable and found in every household.
According to her, the obsolete English language Primer had been reviewed, incorporating technological trends.
“Thematic areas that make the Primer useful for the development of effective learning skills and sustainability have been added.”
“The Primer that will sell the Literacy by Radio programme to private learners for personal literacy and community literacy will be translated into four indigenous languages — Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Kana.
“As learners make use of these Primers, they will develop the skills and knowledge that will enable them to function effectively in contemporary society.
“The Primer which will be equipped with lesson on income generation activities, agricultural development, career development, preventive health and other contiguous diseases, will be useful to learners.”
The project coordinator said that the translation of the Primer would aid the commencement of Literacy by Radio in all states of the Federation.
According to her, the Literacy by Radio project teaches reading, writing and calculations in English and the mother tongue as desired by the learner.
She explained that the presenter and the boadcaster work hand in hand, following the curriculum and Primers already prepared and produced under the directives of the consultant.
She further said that the project would evolve a fast and effective approach to eradicating illiteracy in the country in furtherance of the Education for All (EFA) , one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Ateh-Abang added that the project would to increase access for adults, early leavers and
never-been-to-school opportunities for basic literacy.
According to her, the work which is in two parts, involves professionals that is the Linguistics Association of Nigeria and presentation to UNESCO followed by an in-house two-day review workshop involving four linguistic professionals.
Participants were also drawn from the University of Lagos, University of Sokoto, and Rivers State University as well as staff of the National Mass Literacy Commission, MDGs and the Federal Ministry of Education, among others.