The Katsina State Government has launched a five-day intensive training programme for 306 teachers aimed at improving classroom delivery and tackling the persistent learning crisis in basic education across the state.
The training, built around the Learning Lab Approach, is being conducted simultaneously in Funtua, Malumfashi, and Kankia Local Government Areas (LGAs). Similar sessions had earlier been held in Katsina, Daura, and Dutsin-Ma as part of the government’s sustained efforts to build teachers’ professional capacity and strengthen foundational education.
Speaking during the exercise in Kankia on Wednesday, the Local Government Education Secretary, Hamisu Isah, commended UNICEF for its continued support of the state’s education reforms.
“This training provides an opportunity for teachers to learn from one another and adopt new classroom strategies that boost pupils’ participation and performance,” Isah said.
He explained that the initiative aligns with the state government’s vision of enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy through improved teaching quality at the basic level.
At the Funtua centre, the Education Secretary, Hajiya Maryam Babajo, praised the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for organising the training, describing it as a critical step toward improving the standard of education in Katsina.
“The unwavering commitment by UNICEF and SUBEB to improving the quality of basic education through capacity building for teachers will not go unnoticed,” she said.
Also speaking, the team lead for facilitators, Danjuma Yusuf, highlighted that the Learning Lab model promotes learner-centred and inclusive education, focusing on direct teacher engagement.
“UNICEF introduced the School-Based Teacher Professional Development model to ensure teachers and education experts receive hands-on training directly, rather than through cascaded sessions that often lose impact,” Yusuf explained.
He noted that this approach helps teachers gain practical classroom skills that translate into measurable improvements in learning outcomes.
“When teachers teach effectively, learning happens naturally. You’ll see children reading fluently and performing better because they are getting the right instruction,” he added.
The Katsina SUBEB said the training initiative forms part of a broader plan to reform basic education in the state by strengthening teacher capacity, promoting accountability, and ensuring that every child acquires the foundational skills needed for lifelong learning.
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