By Ndey Sowe
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has commenced a six-day National Training of Trainers (ToT) on Foundational Literacy to prepare for the nationwide rollout of the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Programme in seven national languages.
The training, held at Soma Upper Basic School in the Lower River Region, brings together national trainers drawn from across the country. It is organised through the ministry’s Directorate of In-Service Training and Lifelong Learning (DITaLL) and the In-Service Education and Training (INSET) Unit, in partnership with Learning Mastermind (LM).
The initiative follows the completion of a national training programme on foundational numeracy and represents another step towards the implementation of the FLN Programme across the country.
The programme is part of MoBSE’s preparations for the 2026/2027 academic year. It seeks to address learning gaps among children in the early grades and ensure that pupils develop essential reading and writing skills at the foundational levels, covering Early Childhood Development (ECD) 2–3 and Grades 1–3.
Speaking on the first day of the training, Awa Saho-Jallow, Head of the INSET Unit, emphasised the importance of national trainers in the process of strengthening teachers’ professional skills.
She said the success of classroom teaching depends largely on the quality of training provided to those responsible for preparing teachers. She therefore stressed the need for intensive, practical training to ensure that national trainers are adequately equipped to deliver the programme effectively.
According to Ms Saho-Jallow, the training covers several key areas, including the use of newly developed foundational literacy teaching and learning materials, evidence-based structured teaching methods, inclusive education, classroom management, implementation strategies, monitoring and assessment.
She explained that the training is designed to equip participants with the pedagogical knowledge, practical skills and facilitation techniques needed to support the effective delivery of foundational learning in seven national languages.
Ms Saho-Jallow further disclosed that, while the printed foundational learning textbooks are yet to arrive, the INSET Unit and its partners are using digital teaching and learning resources available through the MoBSE Educational Technology Hub to facilitate the training.
During the six-day programme, participants are expected to take part in lesson demonstrations, micro-teaching sessions, peer reviews and structured feedback exercises.
These activities are intended to ensure that the trainers master the teaching approaches and are prepared to implement the programme consistently before being deployed to their respective regions.
Upon completion of the training, the national trainers will lead the training of classroom teachers across all eight education regions ahead of the nationwide rollout of the FLN Programme.
The initiative is supported by the World Bank through the RISE Project and coordinated by the Central Projects Coordination Unit of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA).
Foundational literacy and numeracy are essential components of early childhood and primary education. Children who develop strong reading, writing and numeracy skills during their early years are better positioned to progress through the education system.
The Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Programme seeks to strengthen these basic competencies among young learners, with the use of national languages intended to support early learning and improve children’s understanding of classroom lessons.
The planned rollout in the 2026/2027 academic year will require the preparation of trainers and classroom teachers to ensure that the programme is delivered effectively across the country’s education regions.
Facebook Notice for EU! You need to login to view and post FB Comments!