Education and Literacy

Education and Literacy: A Nigerian Perspective

Nigeria has a literacy rate of 57%, which compares poorly with those of its neighbours Ghana (63%) and Equitorial Guinea (78%). Stepping Stones Nigeria has found that most Government schools in the Niger Delta region are very poorly equipped with teachers suffering terrible moral due to irregular pay and lack of training opportunities.Indeed primary school teachers in Akwa Ibom State were on strike for 6 months in 2005/6 due to the fact that the government had failed to pay their wages for over 5 months. Many children leave school unable to read due to lack of resources and outdated teaching methods. Indeed some would argue that learning in the majority of Nigerian schools has become mearly a sham and mimicry for there is no way that formal education can be meaningful without books and committed teachers.

Stepping Stones Nigeria believes that raising literacy levels through the introduction of books into Nigeria and the training of teachers in the latest teaching methods will significantly contrubute towards the development of the Niger Delta in many ways. Increased literacy will help people to hold government to account, develop the economy, improve knowledge of human rights and contribute towards a more equitable and just society.

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