Borno introduces literacy, vocational education in Almajiri schools | Tellwell Newspaper
Tellwell Newspaper, Abuja – Nigeria:
As part of efforts to reduce the out-of-school children burden Nigeria is grappling with, Borno state governor Babagana Zulum has ordered the integration of vocational education, numeracy and literacy skills among 224,068 pupils across 3,226 Almajiri school in the state.
The aim of the project is to streamline the informal and formal education system to qualify Tsangaya schools products to get admitted into colleges and universities.
Tsangaya or Almajiri schools are informal Madrassa teaching the Koran, common in predominantly Muslim northern part of Nigeria.
Tellwell Newspaper reports thst with 20 million out-of-school children, Nigeria holds the unenviable position of the country with the highest number of children not receiving formal education, surpassing Pakistan and India, according to the UN children’s fund, UNICEF
Zulum gave the order on Tuesday when he received an update on the validation and registration of Tsangaya Schools in Borno State presented by the Governing Council of Arabic and Tsangaya Education Board.
The beneficiaries include 2,775 Tsangaya centres widely known in the northern part of Nigeria as Almajiri schools and 451 Islamiyya Schools.
The governor observed that the integration of vocational education will help to reduce the number of the out-of- school and Almajiri children roaming the streets in all parts of the State.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Arabic and Tsangaya Education Board, Khalifa Ahmad Abulfatahi who presented the findings of the validation and registration of Tsangaya schools said the board had registered 2,775 Tsangaya Schools with 12,309 teachers and 224,068 pupils.
Abulfatahi said of the 224,068 pupils registered, 128,789 are day learners while 97,279 are boarding learners, adding that the board also identified 451 Islamiyya schools operating across the state.
