The National Commission for Colleges of Education has renewed its partnership with Universal Learning Solutions to enhance phonics-based reading instruction across Nigeria’s Colleges of Education.
The renewed collaboration was formalised with the signing of a revised Memorandum of Understanding by the Chief Executive Officer of ULS, Gary Foxcroft, and the Executive Secretary of NCCE, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement from Universal Learning Solutions, Projects Director, Victor Poluektoff, on Saturday in Abuja, the partnership, which began in 2013, aims to improve literacy outcomes through structured and evidence-based approaches to reading instruction.
The statement said, “The initial phase of the collaboration involved the training of directors and desk officers across various units of the commission in synthetic phonics using the Jolly Phonics programme.”
It added that the initiative was designed to build institutional capacity and align teacher education standards with effective early reading methodologies.
In 2016, the programme was piloted in six colleges of education from the six geopolitical zones, where academics and students participated in training on Systematic Synthetic Phonics.
The programme equipped teacher educators with practical skills in phonics-based literacy instruction, ensuring that trainee teachers are prepared with recognised early reading teaching methods.
That same year, both organisations signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding and collaborated on reviewing minimum standards for teacher education, incorporating phonics-based instruction into national frameworks.
The statement said, “The next phase of the collaboration, proposed for 2025 and beyond, will focus on strengthening the capacity of academics in colleges of education in partnership with the Committee of Provosts.”
The initiative is expected to deepen expertise in synthetic phonics, improve reading instruction in teacher training institutions, and promote consistency in literacy teaching nationwide.
Speaking on the partnership, Foxcroft commended the NCCE leadership for its continued collaboration in improving teacher education.
Okwelle expressed “optimism that the partnership would continue to strengthen teacher preparation and improve literacy instruction across the country.”
The statement added that both institutions remain committed to supporting reforms in teacher education and expanding access to effective reading instruction for learners across Nigeria.