The Katsina State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the British Council, has launched a capacity-building programme to train 2,500 beneficiaries comprising 2,000 teachers and 500 principals in English proficiency and instructional leadership.

The participants were drawn from the three senatorial zones of the state.

Speaking during the training, the Katsina State Coordinator for Special Teacher Development Training, Malam Kabir Dodo, said the programme forms part of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s efforts to prioritise the education sector in the state.

He said the objective of the programme is to improve learning outcomes, strengthen the quality of classroom instruction and enhance school leadership and administration.

According to him, the initiative is also aimed at tackling the out-of-school children challenge and making school environments more functional and attractive to improve pupils’ retention.

Also speaking, the Head of English and Education at the British Council, Mr Daniel Fwanshishakh, said the participants were carefully selected from thousands of teachers across the state to pioneer the training and extend its benefits to others.

“You have been chosen to begin this process, which is part of our effort to strengthen your skills as school leaders and to ensure other teachers benefit in advancing education, particularly for children who are out of school,” he said.

Similarly, a Director at the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Ahmad Sani, expressed concern that many pupils complete primary and secondary school without adequate English language proficiency.

He urged the participants to apply the knowledge gained during the training to improve learning outcomes in their respective schools.

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The training is expected to run for several days, after which participants will return to their schools to cascade the knowledge acquired to their colleagues as part of efforts to strengthen Katsina State’s education system from the grassroots.