Kano State is recording a steady rise in foundational literacy and numeracy, according to the 2025 learning assessment conducted under the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE). The findings, shared during the dissemination of Year Three Learning Outcomes on Wednesday, show significant gains in Hausa literacy, English proficiency, and numeracy across PLANE-supported schools.
The assessment credits the improvements to structured lessons, enhanced teacher coaching, and Accelerated Learning Holiday Camps, which have been instrumental in boosting reading performance. Despite the progress, the report highlights persistent challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, insufficient staffing, and limited learning resources, particularly in rural communities, that continue to hamper educational outcomes.
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PLANE National Team Lead, Samuel Achinugu, called on the Kano State government to sustain reforms by fast-tracking teacher recruitment, reviewing the Teacher Development Policy, and strengthening school-community engagement to address staffing gaps in underserved areas. He also emphasized the need for closer monitoring of teacher and pupil attendance and a revision of the state’s Year Two Action Plan to reflect insights from the current assessment.
Responding to the report, Yusuf Kabir, Executive Chairman of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), represented by Board Secretary Hajia Amina Umar, announced that the state has begun the process of hiring 4,000 additional teachers to bolster early-grade learning across all 44 local government areas. He noted that while 4,343 teachers were recently recruited, the state still faces a manpower shortage after nearly eight years without new intakes.
Preparations are underway for computer-based aptitude tests at seven centres in Wudil, Bichi, and other locations. Kabir praised PLANE’s support of 534 schools across four local government areas and the training of over 2,200 teachers, acknowledging the partnership as a key driver of Kano’s improving literacy metrics.
