830 Kaduna Teachers Retrained to Improve Pupils’ Reading, Comprehension
In a bid to tackle poor reading and comprehension skills among pupils in public primary schools, no fewer than 830 teachers in Kaduna State have been retrained on effective English and Hausa literacy teaching methods. The teachers, drawn from 138 public primary schools across Sanga, Jaba, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Sabon Gari and Soba Local […]
In a bid to tackle poor reading and comprehension skills among pupils in public primary schools, no fewer than 830 teachers in Kaduna State have been retrained on effective English and Hausa literacy teaching methods.
The teachers, drawn from 138 public primary schools across Sanga, Jaba, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Sabon Gari and Soba Local Government Areas, participated in the capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening foundational learning and improving classroom outcomes.
The retraining is being implemented by the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), as part of ongoing efforts to raise the quality of basic education in the state.
Education stakeholders have expressed concern over declining literacy levels among pupils, noting that many children struggle to read and comprehend simple texts. The intervention, they said, seeks to address the challenge by equipping teachers with improved instructional strategies and learner-centred approaches.
Speaking at the training, Director of Human Resources at SUBEB, Ahmed Sani, said the programme was designed to strengthen teachers’ capacity to deliver literacy lessons more effectively in classrooms.
According to him, the initiative initially focused on Hausa literacy and numeracy in English but has now been expanded to include English literacy to better meet pupils’ learning needs.
“Our objective is to ensure that pupils can read fluently and understand what they read. When teachers are properly trained, learning outcomes improve significantly,” Sani said.
He added that the programme would be extended to cover Primary 4, 5 and 6 classes to ensure continuity and sustained improvement in pupils’ reading and comprehension skills.
Sani also commended PLANE for its support, describing the collaboration as a strong partnership contributing to improved education delivery in the state.
Also speaking, the 3rd Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kaduna State chapter, Muhammad Shittu, said the retraining had exposed teachers to modern teaching techniques and practical classroom methods.
He noted that the programme has better positioned teachers to engage pupils, assess comprehension levels and address learning challenges more effectively.
“This retraining will have a direct impact in classrooms. Teachers are now better equipped to help pupils read, understand lessons and perform better academically,” Shittu said.
The training forms part of broader reforms by the Kaduna State Government to improve teaching quality, build teachers’ capacity and ensure that pupils acquire strong reading and comprehension skills needed for long-term academic success.