LITERACY IN THE ERA OF COVID-19 CRISIS AND BEYOND

Abstract

Acquiring literacy skills has over the years been bedeviled with challenges such as poverty, insecurity and the resultant displacement of the people, lack of educational infrastructure, teaching aids and reading materials among others. However, research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a vacuum of learning process in our educational system in human history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in 190 countries. This paper highlights the challenges posed by the pandemic, notably the suspension of academic activities and closure of institutions; and outlines the strategies adopted by governments and other stakeholders in the educational sector to ensure that the acquisition of literacy skills do not come to a standstill during the pandemic. , These strategies include the use of the Mass Media like radio and television and distance learning programmes.. The paper suggests, among other things, that government should take the financing of education as top priority and funds meant for education should be used to ease literacy skills acquisition during the pandemic. Equally, government should support the production of electronic devices and materials among the communities.