UNICEF Introduces RANA In Schools To Facilitate Teaching, Learning English, Mathematics

The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF has introduced Reading and Numeracy Activities – RANA to simplify the teaching and learning of English and Mathematics in primary Schools in Anambra state.

In a presentation during during a workshop organized for primary four,five and six teachers of English and Mathematics of selected schools in Njikoka local government Area by UNICEF in collaboration with Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board ASUBEB, a UNICEF representative, Dr Christogonus Nweke explained that RANA was initiated by UNICEF as part of measures towards facilitating easy learning of the subjects by pupils.

According to Dr Nweke , Anambra is one of the pilot States being used by UNICEF to test run the programme, adding that the workshop was a capacity building programme to equip primary school teachers with the relevant skills while the benefiting teachers will scale down what they have learnt to their colleagues in other council areas.

He expressed confidence that if every child is able to read and understand English and mathematics, it will be much easier to comprehend other subjects.

Also speaking a UNICEF Desk officer in Anambra state Basic Education Board Mrs Amaka lkedinma said the new method called RANA is a simplified way of teaching children these two vital subjects, stressing that the state is one of the seven States where the new method has been introduced, adding that three teachers from seven primary Schools in Njikoka Local Government Area are taking part in the ongoing training programme.

Also speaking, a lecturer in the Department of English Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe ,who is also a facilitator of the programme Mr ifeanyi Nzekwu expressed satisfaction with the new approach to teaching the two important subjects in primary schools, noting that it requires teachers using assignments given previously to assess the performance of pupils.

In her reaction , a participant, Mrs Eunice Ogu of Community Primary School Enugu -Agidi, said she has learnt a lot using mind mapping and group reading to achieve the objective.

In her contribution, UNICEF Media Desk Officer, Mrs Franca Madike commended UNICEF for its concern for children and women and for introducing the new method which according to her will go along way in improving the teaching and learning of English and mathematics in primary schools in Anambra state.