Dozens Of Jolly Phonics Trainers Gather In Adamawa For Training Of Teachers

The Universal Learning Solutions (owners of Jolly Phonics Project in Nigeria) in collaboration with Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) and the Adamawa state Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB) have gathered dozens of Jolly Phonics national trainers to train the primary school teachers in the state on Jolly Phonics teaching method.

The training which started on the 16th January, 2023, had about 66 trainers, six technical assistants and the training management team that comprised the Technical Education Specialist, Universal Learning Solutions in person of Jolliest Abbas Muhammad, the Finance and Project Manager (TM), Ibrahim Ahmad Odoko, and the Adamawa State project coordinator, Saddam Idris who delivered, and overseen the training of over 6000 participants across the nooks and crannies of the state.

Declaring the training open, the Executive Chairman Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB), Dr. Salihi Ateequ and an official from Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), Mrs Lilian lauded the Universal Learning Solutions for organizing such a great training in the state.

In his Invitation message, the Technical Education Specialist,ULS, Abbas Muhammad (popularly known as Jolliest Abbas), said the training was the largest so far; covered the primaries one, two and three classes with training centers in Yola, Mubi, Numan, Gombi and Mayo Belwa centers respectively.

“This is the largest training we have ever done,” he said.

According to him, the trainers were invited across eleven states in the Northern region for the training. The states include: Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Adamawa state itself.

He said the training recorded a great success as the trainers were seen maintaining the morale, energy and sense of determinism to give the best to the participants; through Jolly Phonics Multisensory activities, outdoor activities and series of games.

“Despite the fact that it was a training of nine days long, the trainers remained energetic by engaging the teachers or participants in practical activities throughout the training session. One of the reasons the participants felt so happy and promised to replicate and cascade what they learned in their respective classrooms.”

Earlier, the activities of the training reportedly began with the Training the Trainers session where thirty best Jolly Phonics Teachers in the state were selected, having ten scaled through after the rigorous training and eight with outstanding performances were tested during the general training session.

The Technical Education Specialist, ULS maintained that the organization always does follow its due protocols to maintain the standard in such a way that; to become a Jolly Phonics national trainer, you have to pass through different kinds of exams, tests, oral tests, video tasks and many others.

In the same vein, he said the organization proceeded to train the trainers for primaries two and three where eleven trainers were trained to become part of the trainers of P2 and P3 respectively.

While responding to a question posed by Troubleshooter Reporters on the possible challenges faced during the training, Jolliest Abbas Muhammad said, gathering a large number of trainers wasn’t easy and it came with a lot of challenges. However, certain factors such as the recent 10th Year Anniversary Celebration of Jolly Phonics in Northern Nigeria and the fact that the training was the first in 2023 and also the largest ever in the history of Jolly Phonics training, were morale booster for him.

“Wholeheartedly, bringing a large number of trainers like this for training is not easy and one must face challenges. But among the things that boosted my morale with the planning, training and managing were the recent 10th year anniversary, the uniqueness of the training and the zeal to succeed in all I do; no matter the obstacles,” he said.

He finally commended all the trainers for exhibiting a sense of great sportsmanship and working inexhaustibly from the beginning of the training to the end.

“I greatly appreciate all the trainers for their tireless effort and well-done job!”

On his part, the Adamawa State training Manager, Jolly Ibrahim Ahmad Odoko said the training was a huge success and great experience to be remembered, while appreciating the trainers and all the stakeholders for their cooperation and untiring efforts to ensure the success of the training.

“Seriously, the training session was a huge success, and I know this is made possible because of cooperation of all the stakeholders involved. As the manager of the training, I can’t appreciate them enough because they did a fantastic job beyond my expectations.”

Reacting to the training activities was Murtala Bala, a trainer from Kaduna State who said the training session was fantastic and full of Jollification all through.

“It was a great experience for me right from traveling to the state and the activities carried out during the training. The participants were very much willing to get the knowledge of Jolly Phonics,” Murtala said.

Idris Suleiman Isah, a technical personnel said the training happened to be the largest training among the training of Jolly Phonics he had attended as a technical personnel.

“The Adamawa BESDA training was the largest ever training I had managed as a technical personnel. It is a memorable experience for both the trainers and the technical team.”

Another trainer, Salamatu Peter said she had a wonderful and memorable training session being in the midst of great mentors of Jolly Phonics and wonderful participants.

“It was an awesome experience for me despite the little stress. I found it so exciting meeting and mingling with people from different states,” she said.

Other trainers across the states who spoke with Troubleshooter Reporters expressed their profound gratitude to the Universal Learning Solutions, particularly the organization’s Technical Education Specialist, Jolliest Abbas Muhammad and the entire stakeholders that put their hands on deck to ensure a hitch-free Jolly Phonics P1, P2 and P3 nine days training session in Adamawa State.

Some of the participants who spoke to our Reporter at Numan and Mayo Belwa centers, Joking Peter, Hauwa Umar and Ummul Jada expressed their happiness and thanked the Universal Learning Solutions and the entire stakeholders for given them the opportunity to be part of this impactful training, while appealing for more of it in the nearest future.

Over 6000 teachers were reportedly trained in the just concluded Jolly Phonics training in Adamawa State. The training took nine days drilling of primary one, primary two and primary three teachers across the state.

Jolly Phonics project is a teaching method that teaches the children/pupils in a fun filled way using Multi-Sensory activities approach. The project has its presence in almost all the 36 states of the Federation including FCT.