AUN launches USAID support TELA project to improve literacy among children
By; Tina Phineas, Yola
Worried by the low level of literacy in the North East region, most especially Adamawa state, the American University of Nigeria (AUN), has launch the USAID support Technology Enhanced Learning for All (TELA) project geared towards improving literacy and numeracy among 20.000 orphans , vulnerable children, IDP children and adolescent boys and girls in Adamawa State.
Speaking at the occasion, the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Turakin Adamawa disclosed that such a program is not new in Nigeria, stressing that the Northern Nigerian Radio/Television (now FRCN) Kaduna used to air a program called “ ka koyi karatu” which has the same goal as the TELA project.
He noted that the North East is the last in terms of literacy adding that there is the need for change “If 20,000 vulnerable children in the North East can read and write in one year, imagine what will happen in 5 years”, He stressed.
The founder of AUN told the children that, they are lucky to have pencil, paper, tablet and radio to assist them in learning, as during his time he wrote on the sand with his finger.
TELA Project is a one year contract awarded by USAID Nigeria to AUN to make use of radio and information technology to provide opportunities for continuous learning for the targeted 20,000 vulnerable children spread across Yola and its environs.
TELA which was derive from STELLAR (Student Empowerment through Language, Literacy and Arithmetic) is meant to provide a low cost , highly scalable initiative for improving literacy among children and also engage university student to write children’s book in English and local languages and also tutor students in after-school reading and mathematics.
The project will equally coordinate with the Adamawa State Government to ensure access to and use of public facilities and schools as non formal learning centers and also utilize the strong community connection of the AUN- Adamawa Peace Initiative (API) to reach beneficiaries and disseminate project information.
