Most “Almajiri” Not Nigerians — Ganduje

Most Quranic education school pupils, popularly referred to as
“Almajiri”, who roam the streets in the northern part of the
country, are not Nigerians, Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje
said on Monday.

“A lot of them are foreigners from the Niger Republic, Chad, and
Cameroun,” Ganduje said while declaring open, a 3-day retreat
organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in
Kano.

The theme of the retreat is, ”Enhancing Basic Education in
Nigeria towards a Robust Institutional Strengthening and Effective
Stakeholder Engagement”.

“From the survey, we have conducted, most of the “Almajiri”
roaming our streets are from Niger, Chad, and the northern part of
Cameroun.

“Once you improve the quality of ‘Almajiri’ education system,
you are inviting other ‘Almajiri’ from other places to come to your
state. That is another problem.

“The northern governors are putting more pressure toward having
a universal legislation that will limit the migration from one
state to another,” he said.

He said that the retreat was “very vital and important,
especially at this moment that the country is gradually coming out
from the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected education in the
country”.

According to Ganduje, the retreat is also important because it
is coming at a time education has become the first victim of
uncontrolled population, especially when it is not matched with
appropriate economic development.

Ganduje disclosed that free and compulsory primary and secondary
school education as well as the transformation of the ”Almajiri”
education system were some of his major priorities in the education
sector.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboye, had
said that the retreat was aimed at providing an opportunity for the
board and management to brainstorm, exchange ideas and strategies
toward moving basic education forward.

He said that the board and management would review strategic
priorities and propose workable changes in the institution’s
structure to drive both the medium and long-term goals of the
commission.

“We will also re-assess the legal framework, service delivery
model, share emerging developments and trends, including global
best practices, for better performance.

“This retreat could not have come at a better time than now when
Nigeria and, indeed, the entire world, is facing a common enemy –
COVID-19.

“The pandemic is serving as an eye-opener for all stakeholders
in basic education,” he said. (NAN)

Most Quranic education school pupils, popularly referred to as
“Almajiri”, who roam the streets in the northern part of the
country, are not Nigerians, Kano State governor Abdullahi Ganduje
said on Monday.

“A lot of them are foreigners from the Niger Republic, Chad, and
Cameroun,” Ganduje said while declaring open, a 3-day retreat
organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in
Kano.

The theme of the retreat is, ”Enhancing Basic Education in
Nigeria towards a Robust Institutional Strengthening and Effective
Stakeholder Engagement”.

“From the survey, we have conducted, most of the “Almajiri”
roaming our streets are from Niger, Chad, and the northern part of
Cameroun.

“Once you improve the quality of ‘Almajiri’ education system,
you are inviting other ‘Almajiri’ from other places to come to your
state. That is another problem.

“The northern governors are putting more pressure toward having
a universal legislation that will limit the migration from one
state to another,” he said.

He said that the retreat was “very vital and important,
especially at this moment that the country is gradually coming out
from the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected education in the
country”.

According to Ganduje, the retreat is also important because it
is coming at a time education has become the first victim of
uncontrolled population, especially when it is not matched with
appropriate economic development.

Ganduje disclosed that free and compulsory primary and secondary
school education as well as the transformation of the ”Almajiri”
education system were some of his major priorities in the education
sector.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboye, had
said that the retreat was aimed at providing an opportunity for the
board and management to brainstorm, exchange ideas and strategies
toward moving basic education forward.

He said that the board and management would review strategic
priorities and propose workable changes in the institution’s
structure to drive both the medium and long-term goals of the
commission.

“We will also re-assess the legal framework, service delivery
model, share emerging developments and trends, including global
best practices, for better performance.

“This retreat could not have come at a better time than now when
Nigeria and, indeed, the entire world, is facing a common enemy –
COVID-19.

“The pandemic is serving as an eye-opener for all stakeholders
in basic education,” he said. (NAN)