COVID-19: Jolly Phonics develops radio, TV programmes for pupils

AMID school closure occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, a British non-profit organisation, Jolly Phonics, has developed 50-episode TV lesson and 42 radio shows to help Nigerian pupils learn at home.

Jolly Phonics chief executive officer, Mr Gary Foxcroft, revealed this while commending Jigawa and other states for airing the radio programme for the benefits of thousands of pupils across their states.

He explained that the organisation launched ‘Nigerians Educate Everywhere at a Distance (NEED)’ project in respond to calls by the Universal Basic Education Commission for states to develop programmes to ensure pupils learn at home while schools remain closed.

He said, “We have developed 50-episode Jolly Phonics TV lessons series and 42-part radio show for the northern and southern parts of Nigeria and also free Jolly Phonics apps and Africa-based story reading apps have been made available on a dedicated website- www.jollphonics.ng where all contents can be accessed.

“There are also a range of free worksheet and activities to keep children occupied in the home. For families with no electricity, Universal Learning Solutions will be sending SMS messages to as many parents as possible, including a full Jolly Phonics lessons course developed in bytes-sized chunks for parents.”

Mr Foxcroft noted that already, State Universal Basic Education (SUBEBs) in Zamfara, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Abia, Anambra, Jigawa, Ebonyi and Ekiti states are embracing the project by airing the radio show on a range of stations, and that the response had been encouraging.

“Jolly Phonics is a fun and Montessori programme for teaching young learners how to read and write with confidence. It is packed with activities that children love; they feel like they are playing yet they are learning,” he said.

Foxcroft called on all state governments and development partners to join hands in promoting Jolly Phonics distance learning programme and enable children to access the right to literacy from home.

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