50 million almajirai, out-of-school children need govt’s attention: Official

At least 30 million almajirai and 20 million out-of-school children are roaming about and need the government’s attention, an official has said.

News Agency of Nigeria • September 26, 2024

Almajiri children used to tell the story. [PHOTO CREDIT: The Guardian Nigeria]

At least 30 million almajirai and 20 million out-of-school children are roaming about and need the government’s attention, an official has said.

Muhammad Idris, executive secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE), disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the inauguration of an eight-man committee to reform the almajiri education, Mr Idris said the children needed a sense of belonging and direction to their lives.

“It is no longer acceptable that people will give birth to children and throw them into the street for begging. This is about Nigeria and not a segment of the society.

“Almajirai now have various leadership with over 2,000 associations, and it became difficult for the government to harness them. So, the government felt there was a need to look at this with the view to giving them modern pedagogy.

“We must put all hands on deck to address this part of education that has been neglected for some time,” he said.

Mr Idris tasked the committee to bring the various almajiri groups under one umbrella so responsible scholars would emerge among them.

He also tasked the committee to unify all “Tsangaya” (almajiri schools) associations in the country under one umbrella, thereby streamlining interactions and fostering effective collaboration with the NCAOOSCE.

Mr Idris assured that once the measures were implemented, 60 per cent of the almajiri children would be integrated into the Tsangaya education system before the end of the administration.

He gave the committee three weeks to carry out their assignment.

Mr Idris also disclosed that the commission was in talks with the state governments to take over the integrated almajiri schools built by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Responding, the committee chairman, Sheik Sayyadi Alqasim, pledged the commitment of the members to deliver on their tasks.

Alqasim thanked the government for finding them worthy of the job and pledged timely, efficient delivery of the task.

(NAN)

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