By Gbenga Akingbule.
In its efforts to reduce the number of out of school children and fight against the notorious ideology of the Boko Haram Terrorists, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Wednesday assured that his administration will continue to invest heavily in the Tsangaya education system to ensure proper education for Almajiri and other out of school children.
Gatekeepers News reports that Governor Zulum lamented that the Boko Haram Terrorist ideology had lingered due to wrong Islamic teachings by the insurgents.
Prof Zulum made the revelation at the conference hall of Musa Usman Secretariat, Maiduguri, the state capital, during a two -Day Summit aimed at reforming the Almajiri education system, a traditional Islamic method of learning across states in northern Nigeria.
The Governor stressed the need to address “the root causes of insecurity through the provision of education for all citizens of Borno.”
He added that “Improper teaching of Islamic studies has contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram insurgents in the state.”
Prof Zulum noted that to curtail the adverse effects associated with Almajiri education, the Borno State Government has established the Arabic and Tsangaya Education Board, introducing a unified curriculum for Tsangaya and Islamic schools.
Zulum also stated that the reform includes establishing Higher Islamic Colleges that cater specifically to Almajiri children, blending religious and secular curricula and equipping them with skills vital for their personal development and future employment opportunities.
“The Tsangaya Reform is a great development and will give Almajiri a better chance in life, particularly the introduction of integrating western education, vocational, numeracy and literacy skills into the centres, which are also described as Almajiri and Islamic schools,” Zulum said.
“We intend to streamline the informal and formal education systems to quality integrated Tsangaya school for admission into colleges and universities.”
The Chairman of Borno State Arabic and Tsangaya Education Board, Shiekh Arabi Abulfatahi, expressed gratitude to Governor Zulum for giving the board the necessary support in discharging its duties.
The summit provided a platform for participants to discuss issues, share insights and propose actionable solutions to the challenges faced by the Almajiri education system.
At the end of the summit on Thursday, stakeholders, including Ulamas, Educators, policymakers, Community Leaders, and representatives from Civil Societies and donor Partners issued a communique calling for enhanced sanitation facilities in Tsangaya schools to ensure a clean and healthy learning environment.
Other resolutions include: “necessary upgrades of infrastructure to create a more conducive learning atmosphere.
‘Engagement of teachers/ facilitators: participants agreed that the government should introduce basic Arabic lessons, skill acquisition training and integration of basic literacy numeracy program
“Safety Measures: Enhanced safety protocols were recommended to protect students and staff, ensuring a secure educational setting.
“Feeding Programs for Sangaya Centers
Introduction of School Feeding Programs: Participants advocated for the establishment of a consistent feeding program, especially in less privileged communities, to address issues of child hunger and improve learning outcomes.”
