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@UNICEF/2023/Adebayo

One of the key factors contributing
to the learning crisis is the global
shortage of teachers, affecting both
high- and low-income countries
alike. Globally, 44 million additional
primary and secondary teachers are
needed if we are to meet Sustainable
TEACHERS In Sub-Saharan Africa, the region most
Development Goal (SDG) 4 by 2030.

impacted by teacher shortages, there
is an average of 58 students for every
WANTED one trained teacher compared to local assessment and consultation, the Although highly localized, the teacher
the global average of 24 to one. The
consequences of teacher shortages
can be devastating, not only on the
Government of Nigeria established
training programme in North-East
quality of learning but on teacher
workload and well-being. that the first step in addressing the big Nigeria offers some key lessons and
insights for developing sustainable
foundational learning gaps among its
students was to invest in its teachers. foundational learning-focused
Empowering teachers at the forefront of the learning crisis Most teachers are not When awarded a US$ 20 million programming.
equipped to tackle the learning Global Partnership for Education
- Suman Sachdeva and Alyson Gombas crisis (GPE) Accelerated Funding (AF) grant These programmes should be
The alarming state of learning can aimed at improving student learning evidence-based, drawing from global
also be attributed to the quality of outcomes in the North-East region, evidence, best practices, and targeted
children are suffering from ‘learning teachers.
poverty’ – meaning they cannot read the Government of Nigeria prioritized local assessments and consultations.
and understand a simple story by age Nearly 45 per cent of countries have professionalization and upskilling of its They should also be transformative,
10. And in Sub-Saharan Africa – the no teacher training on foundational teaching force. exploring approaches beyond standard
epicenter of the learning crisis – this literacy and numeracy and fewer teacher training models and create
rate is nearly nine out of every 10 than half of all countries surveyed in In May of 2022, Ezekial was just one new pathways for recruiting and
children. UNICEF’s RAPID 2023 analysis have a of over 28,000 teachers to graduate qualifying teachers. Moreover, these
programmes should be systemic and
from the UNICEF-supported training
specific focus on foundational literacy, programme, allowing him to pass sustainable, developed in collaboration
Foundational learning — learning numeracy and socio-emotional
basic reading, numeracy and socio- learning in their national curriculum. qualifying exams and officially become with government counterparts and
emotional skills — gives children When designing interventions to licensed to teach after nearly a decade integrated into existing teacher
the essential building blocks to support teachers at the forefront of in the classroom. training and accreditation systems.
comprehend information, empathize the learning crisis deciding where to Finally, they should be smart, assessing
with others, communicate effectively start can seem daunting. The good The accelerated one-year training the cost-effectiveness of various
and solve problems. These skills are news is, there is evidence on what programme also aimed to equip evidence-based interventions to
the foundation for developing all works and there are solutions to tackle teachers with tailored skills and ensure strategic allocation of limited
@UNICEF/UNI519182/Mari other critical skills including digital, knowledge to meet the foundational resources.
zekial Jacobs, a 33-year-old region gradually recovering from the entrepreneurial and job-specific skills. the crisis. needs of all students in their distinct
school teacher from Nigeria devastation wrought by over a decade Without foundational skills, students There is a solid body of evidence and classrooms — classrooms that on Now more than ever, investing in
is no stranger to crisis. Civil of conflict, Ezekial and many of his often struggle to thrive later in school the path forward is clear: foundational average have only one teacher for teachers is key to tackling the learning
armed conflict and violence fellow teachers are ready to move and as they enter the workforce. learning must come first. every 124 students. Ezekiel shared crisis and ensuring classrooms around
Ehas gripped Ezekial’s home forward and rebuild their communities Declining literacy levels among young that his teaching approach has the world gain more teachers –
in the North-East region since 2009, by tackling a different kind of crisis — children not only impacts the student Fixing foundations first: lessons been greatly impacted by the skills teachers like Ezekiel – that are trained,
forcing more than 1 million children the learning crisis. but also poses a serious threat to from North-East Nigeria he gained, and he now feels more qualified and supported to help every
out of school, damaging over 400 development and economic growth at Based on a growing global body of confident that he can make a dent in child learn the foundations so they can
schools and resulting in the deaths The world is grappling with a learning both the national and global level. evidence, as well as a comprehensive the learning crisis, one student at a reach their full potential.
of over 2,295 teachers. With the crisis. Globally, nearly two-thirds of time.

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