Literacy professionals in Côte d’Ivoire improve their digital skills

Literacy teachers, literacy centre promoters and literacy specialists from across the country – including Abidjan, Adzopé, Bingerville, Dabou, Danané, Grand-Bassam, Niakaramandougou and Tafiré – took part in the training, which used contextualized modules and learning materials developed as part of the Global Education Coalition–Global Alliance for Literacy project to improve the digital competences of literacy educators. The initiative is coordinated by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL).

Ms Anastasie Kacou Sepou, Deputy Chief of Staff at Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of National Education and Literacy, welcomed the opportunity to benefit from this innovative project: ‘Literacy is everyone’s business,’ she argued. ‘Much remains to be done to considerably strengthen the literacy sector in order to drastically reduce the illiteracy rate.’

The interactive training was designed by UIL and provided by experts from UNESCO Abidjan and the Institute of Applied Linguistics. The training used presentations, sharing of experiences and the promotion of good practices to strengthen the capacities of participants to use technology for teaching and learning. Those in attendance voiced the need for more regular trainings as well as a national digital platform for literacy teachers to share their experiences of using information and communication technologies as part of a community of practice.

‘The exchanges on practical examples in Côte d’Ivoire and other countries were very useful,’ commented Mr Paul Marie Adjitin, a teacher involved in a functional literacy project aimed at female market traders in Abidjan, the country’s capital. ‘[The training] improved my digital skills as a literacy teacher by introducing the use of the mobile phones for conducting lessons. I also understand now the fundamental implications of how adults learn and use different technologies.’

This workshop follows an official launch on 19 December 2022 of the Global Education Coalition–Global Alliance for Literacy project, which took place at the Centre National de Matériels Scientifiques (CNMS) in Abidjan and was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of National Education and Literacy. UNESCO will continue to provide technical support to ministries of education and literacy throughout 2023 in order to train more literacy educators in digital skills.

Background

Since its launch in 2016, the Global Alliance for Literacy has driven international discourse and guided the agenda for literacy provision globally for those who need it most. The alliance includes 30 countries committed to improving youth and adult literacy. It serves as a platform for its members to collectively discuss progress and challenges, and exchange knowledge and good practices.