By Ahmed Ahmed
Jigawa state stakeholders have urged the government to take the ownership and responsibility of implementing almajiri system of education in the state
The Stakeholders made the call in a Communique signed by Mr. Basirka Musbahu, Chairman of CSOs forum in Jigawa state, at a one day multi-stakeholder meeting of the Almajiri system on Thursday in Dutshe.
The meeting was organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) was aimed at identifying the challenges bedevilling the Almajiri system and proffer actionable recommendations.
The Communique identified nability of the state government to take full ownership of the implementation of Almajiri system.
“It was identified as the major impediment to the effective and efficient functioning of the Almajiri system.
The Stakeholders recommend that Jigawa state government should take full ownership of the implementation of Almajiri system while expecting support from the federal for effective and efficient functioning of the system
They call on all relevant ministries (Health, Education and Women Affairs) to make budgetary provision in the annual budget starting from 2022 to cater for the welfare of the Almajiri system instead of ad hoc interventions.
The Communique urged the state government to take deliberate efforts at upgrading the existing structures (Health, Education, Shelter, and Skills Acquisition) of the Almajiri system for better impact.
The Stakeholders also canvassed for the integration of Almajiri system with the conventional educational system to ensure that the children learn both western and Islamic knowledge simultaneously
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It appealed to the state government to transfer the administration, finances and curriculum of the Almajiri system from SUBEB to the Islamic Education Bureau for effective and efficient supervision.
The Communique also calls for engagement with experts and Islamic scholars to bring about workable and acceptable changes in the Almajiri system.
They also advocate for the Sensitization to the far-reaching remote villages on responsible parenting to reduce the burden on the mallam at Tsangaya schools.
The Stakeholders stressed the need for training and retraining of the mallams in Tsangaya schools on psycho-social, entrepreneurship and other life skills was canvassed by stakeholders.
The Communique also calls on the private sectors as well as philanthropist to be more involved in providing support to cater for the needs of the Almajiri system in the state
The Stakeholders however, also advocated that Malams of Tsangaya schools should not accept children (under age, i.e less than 10 years) who cannot take care of themselves.
