By Philip Yatai

The Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme said on Thursday that it would improve learning outcomes of pupils in 728 primary schools in Kaduna State.

PLANE is a seven-year United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded programme designed to drive inclusive education programme in Nigeria.

The National Team Lead of PLANE, Dr Nguyan Feese stated this in Kaduna at the official inauguration of numeracy and literacy books and teachers’ guide written in Hausa language for teachers and pupils.

Feese explained that the effort was in line with the National Policy of using local language to teach in primary schools, with a view to improve learning outcomes in primary schools.

She said that the Hausa literacy and numeracy materials were for teachers and pupils in primary 1 and 2, adding that the materials for primary 3 would also be developed and distributed.

According to her, it will be difficult for children to progress through school without foundational literacy.

“The goal is at the end of primary 3, pupils should be able to read a text of 90 words with the help of a teacher and 60 words independently.

“We also want learners to answer comprehension questions about a text they read, write short passages of three sentences, use basic grammar and punctuation properly, and recite and interpret Hausa proverbs.

“We equally want the pupils to demonstrate knowledge of food cleanliness, good habits, history, folktales and other concepts in the Hausa curriculum,” she said.

Earlier, PLANE Team Lead in the state, Ms Diana Agabi, said the development of the foundational literacy material package was one of the integral components of the PLANE programme.

Agabi said that the measure was in line with PLANE mandates of providing schools, teachers, and learners with accessible foundational skill packages across the implementing states of Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa.

She said that the programme was being implemented in six Local Government Areas namely Soba, Sabon Gari, Kaduna North and South, Sanga, and Jaba.

She said that the teachers’ guide and pupils’ books would be distributed when schools resume second term, starting with primary 1 and 2.

The team lead said that a total of 2,553 teachers and head teachers in primary 1 and 2 were currently undergoing training.

According to her, building the capacity of teachers will enable them to impact more on the children for improved learning outcomes.

Mr Samaila Leeman, Permanent Member, School Management, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, thanked PLANE for supporting the state to improve learning outcomes in primary schools.

Leeman said the program came at the right time when the educational system in the state was undergoing major reforms, including teacher recruitment and teaching methodology.

According to him, the books will go a long way in improving learning outcomes in benefiting primary schools.