The Cross River State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank’s Project HOPE Education, has concluded a three-day intensive training workshop aimed at bridging learning gaps in English and Mathematics across primary schools in the state. The workshop, themed “Enhancing Pedagogical Practices for Effective Teaching and Learning of English and Mathematics in Primary Schools,” was held simultaneously from October 29–31, 2025, at the Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI) in Biase, as well as in Ikom and Ogoja. The decentralized format enabled hundreds of primary school teachers from the three senatorial districts to participate in the high-level capacity-building exercise.

Addressing participants, the Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuous teacher development as part of Governor Bassey Otu’s People-First Agenda.

“This program is a professional training development circle put together under His Excellency, Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu’s People-First mantra and commitment to teacher professional growth,” Professor Odey stated, emphasizing that the goal is to produce “competent and resourceful faculty members capable of delivering quality education.”

Citing national statistics showing that about 45.8 million Nigerian children aged 5–14 years are unable to read and understand a simple text — a 76 percent learning deprivation rate nationwide — the Commissioner noted that the World Bank-assisted programme is designed to tackle such foundational learning challenges head-on.

The Chairperson of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (CR-SUBEB), Barr. (Mrs.) Fidelia Okpo-Ene, commended TCTI for its modern training facilities and announced a continuous partnership between CR-SUBEB and TCTI to further enhance teachers’ pedagogical skills.

Also speaking, the Director-General of TCTI, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, a former World Bank consultant and Minister of Sports and Special Duties, described the training as one that adds “immeasurable value” to classroom delivery and strengthens the basic education system. He lauded Governor Otu for prioritizing teachers’ professional development and the World Bank for its sustained support to the state’s education reforms.

The World Bank’s Senior Education Specialist, Dr. Adekunle Adekola, expressed delight at the collaboration, noting that Governor Otu is one of the few leaders who recognize education as a key driver of economic growth. He urged the state to key into the World Bank’s HOPE Governance Initiative to sustain the gains achieved through the Project HOPE Education program. The workshop is the latest in a series of professional development initiatives organized for teachers since the establishment of TCTI four years ago, reaffirming Cross River State’s leadership in education sector reform and teacher empowerment.

By SaintAugustine Adula Odey

November 3, 2025