300,000 textbooks distributed to improve children’s reading skills in Sokoto

By Boco Abdul

Abuja, Nigeria – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the distribution of 300,000 textbooks to support teachers and pupils benefitting from an education program that improves the reading skills of children in nearly 900 schools in Sokoto state.

USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey with the Governor of Sokoto state Aminu Tambuwal presented the books formally in a ceremony at Buhari Model Primary school in Tambuwal local government area on Tuesday, January 24, 2017.

USAID is creating more opportunities for out-of-school-children to access education and boost the literacy level of more than two million Nigerian children and youth through the five-year Northern Education Initiative Plus (the Initiative) project.

“Every child deserves quality basic education. The United States is proud to partner with the Government of Sokoto state to provide more opportunities for children to not just go to school but learn to read and write,” said USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey.

“We will continue to meet the yearnings of parents for quality early grade reading instruction for their children. Our education efforts in Sokoto is an investment in the future of children who will grow to contribute positively to their communities,” Harvey said.

The textbooks distributed to schools are part of a reading program implemented by the Northern Education Initiative Plus focused on empowering teachers with skills and tools to support children to read in Hausa in P1-2 and later transition to English in P3.

They were developed by more than 100 local and international experts and contain illustrative pictures and stories promoting social values that are attractive to children.

Governor of Sokoto state Aminu Tambuwal reiterated government’s commitment to improving the quality of basic education in schools so more children acquire basic literacy skills. Tambuwal was represented at the event by the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Muhammad Kilgori.

“We remain committed to investing in the future of our children through education and the U.S government is a worthy partner in this vision. It is important that every child in school learns to read and this is why we are cascading the Reading program of the Northern Education Initiative Plus to all schools in Sokoto state,” Kilgori said.

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