The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) has undertaken a significant training initiative aimed at enhancing literacy and numeracy instruction in the state’s public schools. On Tuesday, no fewer than 321 teachers underwent training on the Reading and Numeracy Activities (RANA) teaching methodology.

RANA, a three-year project funded by DFID through UNICEF as part of the Girls Education Program Phase 3 (GEP3), is designed to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for learners, especially girls, in grades one to three. The program encompasses both public schools and Integrated Quranic Schools, focusing on developing Hausa-language teaching and learning materials, building teacher capacity, mobilizing communities, and engaging local governments to improve early grade reading policies.

The three-day refresher training, which constitutes phase three of the RANA program and is supported by the World Bank, falls under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) initiative. During the training, participants received instruction on effective teaching techniques and strategies to enhance literacy and numeracy instruction, with a particular emphasis on the Hausa language, the immediate language of the pupils’ environment.

Speaking at the opening of the training, Mrs. Josephine Michael, Head of Education Management Information System of KADSUBEB, highlighted the importance of the program in improving learning outcomes for pupils. She emphasized the Kaduna State Government’s vision for pupils to achieve literacy milestones by primary three, including the ability to identify letters, sounds, read simple sentences, perform basic addition, and comprehend stories.

Mrs. Michael underscored the child-centered nature of the RANA methodology, which incorporates elements of play, songs, and actions to engage learners effectively. Trainees, including Malam Shehu Bashari from Zaria LGA and Rahab Benjamin from Kaura LGA, attested to the program’s efficacy in improving learning outcomes. Malam Bashari noted a significant improvement in learners’ ability to read and comprehend, while Rahab Benjamin shared her personal success story of using RANA techniques to teach her niece effectively.

The participants, comprising RANA mentors, coaches, and master trainers from the state’s 23 LGAs, expressed enthusiasm for implementing the newly acquired skills in their respective schools. The training represents a proactive step towards improving education quality and fostering positive learning outcomes for pupils across Kaduna State.