Eljojo Divine Heritage Academy

The Problem: Endemic child and teenage illiteracy in Nigeria: Nigeria has 18.5million out of school children; 60% of whom are girls. 6million children of aged 3-5years are not currently attending Early Childhood Development (ECD) and 8.5million children of aged 6-11years are out of school. One in five of the world out of school children is in Nigeria, only 61% of 6-11years old regularly attend primary school and only 35.6% of children aged 36-59months receive early childhood education. This figures are the highest anywhere in the world.

Target beneficiaries and the solution we offer

Early Learners (girls and boys 1.8-5years): We leverage digital technologies and person to person contact to deliver; Early Childhood Development Education for early leaners helping them to develop letter and number literacy.

Basic School Leaners (girls and boys 6-14years)/Teenagers (15-18years): We offer basic and secondary education for teenagers helping them to establish solid foundations in sciences and arts, qualify for external examinations and gaining admission into prestigious tertiary institutions of their choices. 

The girl child: Available statistics to us indicates that 60% of out school children in Nigeria are girls. Our intervention has a special focus on accelerating and sustaining learning access for out of school girls in North-Central Nigeria.

Discussion and opinion survey through Parent Teachers Forum (PTF): Through the Parents Teachers’ Forum, there were series of engagement with parents, community leaders and members; the plan for the transition in learning approach was thoroughly discussed and we received feedback from the parents and community on their disposition toward the transition from traditional learning to blended learning. They also expressed readiness and willingness to be trained to enable them support their children and to also provide the enabling environment that will facilitate blended learning for their children. Our plan is to keep this discussion going and to provide update and feedback at every PTF meeting until the transition process is fully accomplished.

Theory of Change

Blended learning will lead to accelerated and sustained learning access for early leaners (girls and boys 1.8-5yeras) and basic school learners (girls and boys 6-14yeasr) in Anyigba, Kogi State.

Expected Impact

Accelerated and sustained learning access for early leaners (girls and boys 1.8-5yeras) and basic school learners (girls and boys 6-14yeasr) in Anyigba is achieved through blended learning.

Expected Outcomes

1. 1000 early leaners (girls and boys 1.8-5years) in Anyigba developed letter and number literacy in four years.

The standard preschool learning in Nigeria spans four years, however, it is expected that the progress for this outcome will be measured monthly, quarterly and annually, the full measurement of this outcome is to take place at the completion of the pre-school period of four years for the early learners.

2. 1000 basic school leaners (girls and boys 6-14years) in Anyigba established solid foundation in science and arts in nine years.

The standard basic school learning in Nigeria spans nine years, however, it is expected that the progress for this outcome will be measured monthly, quarterly and annually, the full measurement of this outcome is to take place at the completion of the basic school period of nine years for the basic school learners.

Key Objectives

1. To accelerate and sustain learning access for 1000 early leaners (girls and boys 1.8-5years) in Anyigba through blended learning; helping them to develop letter and number literacy in four years.

2. To accelerate and sustain learning access for 1000 basic school leaners (girls and boys 6-14years) in Anyigba through blended learning; helping them to establish solid foundation in sciences and arts in nine years.

Key Outputs

1. Blended learning need assessment conducted and reports produced

2. Blended learning curriculum and learning materials developed/adapted

3. Blended learning facilities procured and deployed

4. Management, staff/teachers, parents/caregivers and teachers gain knowledge and basic skills for the utilization of blended learning.

Key Activities

1. To conduct blended learning needs assessment

2. To develop/Adapt appropriate and suitable blended learning curriculum

3. To develop/adapt appropriate blended learning materials

4. To procure/deploy blended learning facilities in the community

5. To train; management, staff/teachers, parents and students on blended learning approach.

6. To fully deploy blended learning at all levels of learning in the community.

Based on the Nesta’s Standard of Evidence, we are at level one for this process. Through the review of available related literatures, and observed best and current practices, we have established that there is a pressing need for the adoption of blended learning to accelerate and sustain learning for early learners and teenagers in the communities we serve.

“Blended learning is a method of teaching that integrates technology and digital media with traditional instructor-led classroom activities, giving students more flexibility to customize their learning experiences”. The power of blended learning methods lies in their ability to improve the student experience, guarantees uninterrupted learning, reduces failure rates, improves learning, and boosts engagement. Education is no longer just about putting pen to paper and memorizing facts. Today, innovative educators in both higher education and corporate learning & development are improving learning through technology, as evidenced by the rapid adoption of technology-assisted teaching methods and blended learning models. Studies have shown “blended learning” reduces failure rates, improves learning access, and boosts engagement.

Moreover, the outbreak of COVID-19 in the year 2020 has further deepened our quest to fully adopt blended learning; with the outbreak, our academic program was completely disrupted, learning couldn’t take place beyond the four walls of our classrooms; COVID lessons requires us now more than ever to evolve adaptable learning methods that could cushion against related global outbreak in any other forms.

Indicator 1: % of early learners showing improvement in their letter and number recognition and identification skills.

Data Source:

Weekly leaners assessment book

Mid-term learners’ assessment report

End of term leaners assessment report

Parents/guardians feedback report

Referral reports

Indicator 2: % of basic school leaners showing improvement in their literacy and numeracy skills.

Data Source:

Weekly leaners assessment book

Mid-term learners’ assessment report

End of term leaners assessment report

Parents/guardians feedback report

Ministry of Education Basic Six Examination

Referral reports

Accelerating and sustaining learning access for early leaners (girls/boys1.8-5years) and basic leaners (girls/boys6-14years) in Nigeria through blended learning.

Research Questions

1. How will blended learning accelerate and sustain learning access for early leaners (girls/boys 1.8-5years) and basic school leaners (girls/boys 6-14years) in Anyigba? Through the review of available related literatures, we understand that blended learning could accelerate and sustain learning access, however, through this research question, we seek to establish how this could happen and its validity or otherwise in our context to enable us make evidence based decision regarding the next steps.

2. What are the suitable blended learning methods for early leaners (girls/boys 1.8-5years) and basic school leaners (girls/boys 6-14years) in Anyigba?

3. How will ELJOJO-Divine Heritage Academy transits fully from traditional learning to blended learning for early leaners (girls/boys 1.8-5years) and basic school leaners (girls/boys 6-14years) in Anyigba?

Expected Deliverables

Deliverable 1: A comprehensive need assessment for the adoption of blended learning for early learners (1.8-5years) and basic school leaners (6-14yeasr) in Anyigba is completed.

Deliverable 2: Adapt/develop a suitable blended learning curriculum for early leaners (1.8-5years) and basic school leaners (6-14yeasr) in Anyigba.

Deliverable 3: Adapt/develop learning materials for blended learning for early learners (1.8-5years) and basic school leaners (6-14yeasr) in Anyigba.

The successful outcome of this project will;

1. Enable a full adoption of blended learning in delivering educational services for early learners and teenagers in Anyigba by 2027.

2. Increased market and community coverage to five communities by 2027: We presently operate in one community, it is expected that the outcome of this project will provide us the road map to enable us scale our intervention to reach more communities, especially rural communities. We are already fully aware based on our environmental survey that there are many more communities that needs our services.

3. Increased and sustained enrolment to 1800 early leaners (girls and boys 1.8-5years) and basic school leaners (girls and boys 6-14) by 2027: We have mapped out the strategies to enable us scale to reach 1800 in five years, this project is a major part of our planned strategies. By infusing technologies into our service delivery through the adoption of the blended learning approach, it become more strategic for us to reach more numbers