May 4, 2026
The Commissioner for Education, Cross River State, Sen. Professor Stephen Odey, Esq., on Monday received the Cross River State Project Manager of Jolly Phonics, Mr. Tony Horsfall, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters in Calabar.
The visit provided an opportunity for Mr. Horsfall to present an overview of the ongoing Jolly Phonics literacy programme being implemented across public and private primary schools in the state. He highlighted the programme’s focus on strengthening foundational reading and writing skills among early learners through a structured and child-friendly phonics approach.
According to him, the initiative has continued to record encouraging participation from pupils, alongside positive feedback from teachers who have undergone specialized training in the methodology.
As part of the visit, Mr. Horsfall formally presented revised editions of selected Jolly Phonics textbooks and instructional materials to the Ministry. He explained that the updated resources are designed to enhance classroom delivery, align with current learning needs, and better support teachers in achieving improved literacy outcomes among pupils.
In his response, the Commissioner, Professor Odey, welcomed the Project Manager and commended the Jolly Phonics team for their sustained commitment to advancing basic education in Cross River State. He noted that the Ministry has maintained a long-standing and productive partnership with the programme, which has facilitated the training and retraining of numerous teachers across the state.
Professor Odey further emphasized that Jolly Phonics has become an integral component of the early years’ curriculum, significantly contributing to improved reading culture and comprehension skills among young learners. He expressed appreciation for the upgraded materials presented and assured Mr. Horsfall of the Ministry’s continued support and collaboration toward expanding the programme’s reach and effectiveness.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment between the Ministry of Education and the Jolly Phonics team to promote quality foundational literacy and strengthen the educational development of children across Cross River State.