Pulse.ng : PLANE trains 504 teachers on digital learning skills in Kaduna

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) has trained no fewer than 504 teachers on a digital platform, enabling them to share ideas, strengthen professional practice and improve learning outcomes.

The initiative, ‘Digital Community of Practice’,

aims to build a community of digitally empowered teachers.

The programme, piloted in four local government areas, provided teachers with an opportunity to gain credit units under the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) scheme.

At a dissemination of certificates to cohort one participants on Friday in Kaduna, the State Team Lead of PLANE, Mrs Diana Agabi, explained that the training is centred on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), using digital platforms such as WhatsApp.

She said this would enable teachers to share ideas, interact, and strengthen classroom teaching and learning practices.

Agabi added that the initiative introduced teachers to global best practices in digital learning, stressing that online platforms are widely adopted internationally, and Nigerian teachers must also embrace them to improve capacity and outcomes.

She added that the teachers were expected to share experiences, teaching feedback, and challenges on the platform, while colleagues respond with strategies, peer support, and innovative approaches to classroom management and inclusive learning.

Agabi explained that teachers learn how to manage diverse situations, including handling learners with disabilities, and can adopt practical ideas from their peers to improve teaching, build resilience, and enhance student performance.

“The Teachers’ Digital Community of Practice Initiative was designed to encourage teachers to go beyond traditional classrooms and build professional communities driven by digital empowerment.

“The project, piloted across four local government areas, aims to raise teachers who are digitally aware, professionally competent, and committed to continuous capacity building to improve student learning outcomes.

“The programme also complements the TRCN scheme by providing participants with additional credit units as proof of professional growth, as it encourages other teachers yet to register to do so,” she said.

Agabi commended the 504 teachers who successfully participated in the initiative, describing them as trailblazers whose success would inspire colleagues to embrace innovation, professionalism, and lifelong learning to transform education in Kaduna and beyond.

The State Coordinator of TRCN, Esther Natsa, explained that the council is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing the teaching profession, ensuring teacher development, setting standards, and offering opportunities for continuous professional growth across the country.

Natsa, represented by Nafisa Abbas, noted that the council plays a crucial role in enhancing teachers’ skills and upholding professional ethics.

The council also ensured accountability, and improving teaching quality in Nigeria through structured programmes and policies, including accreditation of teacher training institutions.

She added that the Career Path Policy guides teachers’ progression through recruitment, training, and promotion, helping them meet professional standards, while serving as the new national career guide to enable teachers to drive their own career development effectively.

Natsa explained that TRCN established the Teachers Investigation Panel to address complaints against teachers, supported by the Teacher Ethics and Criminal Record Verification Framework.

According to her, it bars teachers with criminal records from classrooms while ensuring learners’ safety through collaboration with law enforcement.

The coordinator disclosed that the newly launched TRCN digital portal simplifies registration, licencing, and renewals, serving as a national database for tracking professional growth.

“Teachers can now update records, obtain licences, and print certificates conveniently from anywhere in Nigeria.

“TRCN certification is increasingly required for employment and promotions, aligning with global standards to ensure recognition across West Africa and beyond, thereby opening teaching opportunities abroad for fully certified and licensed Nigerian teachers,”she said.

The acting Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), Mr Mubarak Muhammad, said the state government prioritised education, investing in human capital through teachers’ development.

He said over 26,000 teachers had been trained in various thematic areas, including literacy and numeracy.

“The state has partnered with PLANE and TRCN to provide formal certification and CPD points for teachers.

“This initiative aims to improve learning outcomes and teacher effectiveness,”he said.

Muhammad disclosed that Kaduna SUBEB planned to train over 6,000 teachers in the current academic session.

He explained that the training was low-cost, online, and allowed the teachers to learn at their own pace, reducing the burden of travel and large gatherings.

Muhammad thanked TRCN’s efforts in driving digital literacy and opportunities for teachers, stating that Kaduna SUBEB was eager to work closely with them to ensure all teachers benefit from the initiative.

He thanked PLANE and congratulated the teachers on attaining certification, urging them to translate their training into positive impact in classrooms, improving learning outcomes and benefiting learners.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PLANE programme, funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), aims to improve foundational learning outcomes.

Its interventions cut across six LGAs of Kaduna state. (NAN)