The Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, emphasized the dire state of education in the region, revealing, “50% of our pupil population in Enugu State cannot read in English or tackle basic math.”
Speaking at the Old Boys Association of Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw’s quadrennial convention, Onyia highlighted how the state’s Baseline Assessment of primary schools in November 2023 brought these deficiencies to light.
“Shockingly, after six years of primary school, half of our children struggle to read a single word in English, and even those who can face comprehension challenges,” Onyia lamented.
He continued, “Moreover, 50% of our children can’t handle simple subtraction problems—a trend that extends beyond our state and across the nation.”
Expressing disappointment, Onyia pointed out, “In Nigeria, three out of four children completing basic education lack crucial numeracy and literacy skills.” Referring to global organizations, he labeled this crisis as ‘the Nigerian Learning Crisis’, highlighting the deficiencies recognized by the World Bank, UNICEF, and UNESCO.
Highlighting the broader implications, Onyia added, “Our children also face a ‘Skills Gap’ due to outdated teaching methods that fail to impart essential scientific, technological, productive, and digital competencies.”
