Literacy educators in Nigeria enhance their digital skills for instruction

Literacy educators from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones recently participated in a pilot training exercise to strengthen their digital skills. The training used contextualized modules and learning materials developed by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) under the Global Education Coalition–Global Alliance for Literacy project on improving the digital competences of literacy educators. It was the culmination of an extended contextualization process conducted by a national technical team made up of representatives from the country’s National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), the Non-Governmental Association for Literacy Support Services (NOGALSS), the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in Abuja and national universities.

A first group of literacy educators took part in the training, which was facilitated by professors from four of Nigeria’s universities: Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Bayero University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos. The training comprised theoretical content and hands-on activities, including accessing digital training modules on the UIL Learning Hub, creating WhatsApp groups, sending emails, setting up online meetings, knowing how to spot fake websites and uploading blog posts, among others.

‘Many of my learners are artisans in different trades,’ explained participant Mr David Faruk Samuel, who teaches post-literacy classes for adults and young people who are not in school. ‘The younger ones, especially the traders, own smart phones. Now, since I took part in the training, I have worked with my learners to form a WhatsApp group and have been able to make use of digital tools to deliver classes.’

‘Even for me, getting data regularly is difficult and expensive,’ added Ms Faith Ifeoma Akam, a literacy teacher whose adult learners mostly own basic mobile phones. ‘[However,] I can now help my learners use text messaging to increase the number of words they know. We discuss the daily news and I teach them how to type the relevant words in texts. They are improving by the day.’

UNESCO will continue to provide expertise and technical support to Nigeria in 2023 to develop the digital skills of its literacy educators, thereby preparing them for the future digitalization of learning.

Background

Since its launch in 2016, the Global Alliance for Literacy within the Framework of Lifelong Learning (GAL) has driven international discourse and guided the agenda for literacy provision globally for those who need it most. The alliance includes 30 countries committed to improving youth and adult literacy. It serves as a platform for its members to collectively discuss progress and challenges, and exchange knowledge and good practices.