Katsina Launches British-Backed TaRL SCALE Programme

By: Muhammad Jalal katsina

Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has launched the Scaling Access and Learning in Education (SCALE) Programme, saying the initiative will strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy and improve learning outcomes among children across the state.

Governor Radda stated this on Thursday at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Katsina, during the official launch of the programme, which uses the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach to provide instruction based on children’s actual learning levels.

The Governor said the initiative would complement his administration’s efforts to expand access to education, strengthen teachers’ capacity and provide safer and more inclusive learning environments, particularly for children whose education had been interrupted.

“Education is not simply about getting a child into school. Access to school is only the beginning; learning is the ultimate objective. A child must not only be enrolled, but must learn. A child must not only attend school, but must also be safe,” he said.

Governor Radda said teachers must also be adequately supported and professionally developed to deliver effective teaching.

He explained that the state would continue to embrace evidence-based interventions that improve learning while ensuring that successful approaches were integrated and sustained within the education system.

“Our ambition is not merely to implement accelerated learning programmes. Our ambition is to build an education system that can continuously improve, where approaches that demonstrate value and produce results can be properly integrated and sustained within the state education system,” he noted.

The Governor described development partners as strategic partners in education development, stressing that their contribution goes beyond funding to include knowledge, innovation, expertise and sustainable solutions.

“We do not see development partners simply as sources for funding. We see them as partners who bring knowledge, innovation, expertise, systems and sustainable solutions into our education system,” he said.

He assured stakeholders that the state government would continue to support teachers, facilitators and other personnel involved in the programme, including consideration of their welfare and allowances to enhance their effectiveness.

Governor Radda said investment in education was an investment in the future, noting that children in classrooms today could become tomorrow’s teachers, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists and leaders.

“When we improve education, we are not simply improving schools; we are shaping the future of our communities,” he said.

He commended the education authorities, teachers, facilitators, communities and development partners for their contributions, and called for stronger collaboration to ensure that every child has access to quality and meaningful learning.

Earlier, the representative of the British High Commission to Nigeria, Mr. Ian Attfield, commended the Katsina State Government for its commitment to improving learning outcomes and strengthening education partnerships.

Attfield said Teaching at the Right Level was an evidence-based approach that enables teachers to identify what children actually know and provide instruction according to their learning needs.

“Teaching at the Right Level is an evidence-based approach that helps teachers understand what children actually know and provides instruction that matches their learning needs,” he said.

He stressed the importance of foundational literacy and numeracy in determining children’s future educational and economic opportunities.

The British High Commission representative said the United Kingdom had maintained a long-standing partnership with Nigeria and Katsina State in supporting education, including girls’ education, teacher development and interventions for vulnerable learners.

He said the SCALE Programme would build on lessons from previous interventions while strengthening the capacity of teachers and educators.

Attfield also noted that insecurity and displacement had disrupted the education of many children in Northern Nigeria, stressing the importance of flexible and evidence-based learning pathways.

“Far too many children in Northern Nigeria have been denied access to quality education. We must all step up to open flexible, evidence-backed pathways for learning to ensure that no child is left behind,” he said.

He expressed the readiness of the British Government to continue working with Katsina, Zamfara and other stakeholders to strengthen the programme and maximise its impact.

Also speaking, Executive Secretary Katsina State Development Management Board Dr Mustapha Shehu, said the launch marked an important transition of the programme from its pilot phase to the scale-up phase.

Shehu said the Teaching at the Right Level approach would improve learning opportunities, particularly for formerly out-of-school children and learners whose education had been interrupted.

He explained that the programme combines accelerated learning with TaRL methodology, learner support, safeguarding and inclusive teaching.

“The pilot phase has provided valuable lessons, experiences and evidence that will guide the scale-up phase,” he said.

He appreciated the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), TaRL Africa and other development partners for their support, assuring that relevant state education institutions would continue to support the programme.

The SCALE Nigeria innovative partnership is implementing TaRL-enhanced accelerated basic education interventions in Katsina and Zamfara States, targeting more than 3,800 learners through over 50 learning centres with more than 100 facilitators.

The programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Katsina State Development Management Board, State Universal Basic Education Board, State Agency for Mass Education and the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, among other stakeholders.

Supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented with partners including TaRL Africa, the programme seeks to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy and ensure that more children acquire the skills needed to succeed in school and beyond.

The event was attended by representatives of education agencies, development partners, teachers, facilitators, community stakeholders and other key actors in the education sector.

Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed
CPS to Katsina State Governor