No fewer than 100 teachers from public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa State are undergoing a three-day training on reading skills, structured phonics and literacy.
The programme, holding at Saint Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Yenagoa, is organised by the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) in partnership with Bridge Academy International and the Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board (TTRCB).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Gentle Emelah, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Simon-Peter Okene, commended the initiative and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to improve learning outcomes in schools.
The Executive Secretary of EDTF, Prof. Ebimieowei Etebu, said the training became necessary in view of concerns over poor reading abilities among many schoolchildren, stressing the need for teachers to adopt structured literacy and phonics instruction.
Founder of Bridge Academy International, Mrs Mabel Joel, said the programme was designed to equip teachers with practical, evidence-based strategies to help pupils become confident readers.
She expressed confidence that improved teaching methods would strengthen literacy outcomes and expand learning opportunities for children across the state.
The training has the theme, “Building Strong Readers.”
