BREAKING: We Need To Redefine, Almajiri Are Not Out-Of-School Children

The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaba Saidu, has said Almajiri are not out-of-school children.

Professor Saidu said there has to be a change in the definition of which child belongs to the bracket of out-of-school children. She stated that the 15 million out-of-school children data could be wrong since it included Almajiri.

In an interview with Arise News on Monday, Mrs. Saidu noted that under Almajiri education, children learn basic literacy and numeracy.

She explained that what had affected the country’s education was poor policies would did not give solutions to challenges in the sector. She said President Bola Tinubu’s government would solve the challenges affecting the education system in the country.

“What we are doing under the renewed hope agenda, under education renewed hope, we have key priority areas that we are focusing. We are trying to come up with reformations that are long-lasting. Most of the time there are different interventions by different governments. Most of these interventions are not actually leaving lasting solutions to the problem. But from an insider now, they understand what it takes to make this reformation change, to make all these changes. I can say that what we are working for now, what we are working on based on the renewed agenda of the Bola Tinubu administration if fully implemented, will actually lead to a lasting solution to the different problems we have in the education sector

“We have about six key priority areas. Each of these key priority areas has different arms in terms of, as I said, we are looking for a lasting solution. So it’s not just to identify one thing to do, rather let’s look at it holistically, different areas. ,” she said.

Out-Of-School Children And Almajiri

Professor Saidu disclosed that the Almajiri system needs collaboration but children who get such system’s education should not be included in out-of-school data.

“One of the key issues we have is out-of-school children. What do we have on the ground to solve the issue of out-of-school children? We have different reforms that we are targeting to ensure that we enroll these children back to school. Let’s take, for instance, the Almajiri Commission. This commission has programs, and these programs they have are lasting programs.

“Apart from that, on that Almajiri education, because the issue is around out-of-school children,  We have 15 million out-of-school children. We have different data, but it depends on the data you are looking at. But basically, let’s say 15 million out-of-school children that we have. These 15 million include Almajiri. But as we all are aware, everybody living in Nigeria knows that Almajiri has a system of education. They have their own curriculum. They have their teachers. They have a system that they are using in educating this Almajiri. So the definition itself, we want to go back and redefine what do we mean by out-of-school children, because Almajiri are not part of that program,” she stated.

The Minister of State for Education explained that what Almajiri needs wat to be fit into the general system. She highlighted the need for an improved curriculum that includes skill acquisition in Almajiri education system.

“But at the same time, for us to ensure that we help this Almajiri to fit into the general system that we have of education, let’s go back and see about providing them with foundational learning, basic literacy, basic numeracy, even some aspect of digital training and also skill accusation program.

“Let’s give them skill training. If you are attending an Almajiri school, you are at the same time being taught the foundational learning: Literacy, numeracy, skill, and digital training. When I say literacy, numeracy, they have the ability to read and write, do basic arithmetic, be able to operate simple digital tools, your phones, mobile phones, do all those. A lot of opportunities are out there. And then you’ll be equipped with a skill. That skill is meant to help you live a sustainable future.

“When you have a skill that you can actually be able to make use of to empower yourself and even your family, then you are being mainstreamed into the general system. So we have that plan on the ground,” she added.

Recall that Naija News reported that the National President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu, called for the scrapping of Almajiri system of education.

Pogu argued that Northern political leadership allowed Almajiri education for political ends.