Kano Records Rise In Literacy Level

Kano State has recorded a steady rise in foundational literacy and numeracy levels, findings from the 2025 learning assessment conducted under the United Kingdom (UK)-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE).

The assessment, presented during the dissemination of Year Three Learning Outcomes in Kano on Wednesday, showed improvements in Hausa literacy, English proficiency and numeracy across PLANE-supported schools.

The report attributed the progress to strengthened teacher coaching, structured lessons and Accelerated Learning Holiday Camps, which it identified as major drivers of improved reading performance.

However, the report warned that significant system gaps—particularly overcrowded classrooms, inadequate staffing and limited learning materials—continued to undermine progress, especially in rural communities.

PLANE national team lead, Samuel Achinugu, urged the state government to sustain ongoing reforms by accelerating teacher recruitment, reviewing the Teacher Development Policy and deepening school-community engagement to address deployment gaps in underserved areas.

He called for stricter follow-up on teacher and pupil attendance and a revision of the state’s Year Two Action Plan to align with emerging evidence from the current assessment.

Responding to the findings, the executive chairman of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Yusuf Kabir, represented by the board secretary, Hajia Amina Umar, said that the state plans to hire 4,000 additional teachers to strengthen early-grade learning in all the 44 local government areas.

Kabir said that although 4,343 teachers were recently recruited, the state still suffers a wide manpower deficit after nearly eight years without teacher intake.

He disclosed that preparations were underway to conduct computer-based aptitude tests at seven centres in Wudil, Bichi and other locations and commended PLANE for supporting 534 schools in four local government areas and training more than 2,200 teachers.