Tambuwal: Almajiri system will be remodelled — not banned

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, says the state will work on remodelling the almajiri education system.

The almajiri system is a process where children leave their homes in search of Islamic knowledge.

During the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, northern governors had taken a hard stance against the almajiri system, with many children relocated to their home states.

Speaking on Saturday, at the closing ceremony of a two-day workshop for the adaptation of the Indonesian Pondok system into the Almajiri-Islamiyya educational system in the state, Tambuwal said his administration will ensure that the initiative is implemented.

“We are not aiming to ban the almajiri qur’anic education system as some people have urged the Sokoto state government to emulate other states,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“We are striving to provide reasonable solutions to the challenges and with the present initiative, the time has come.”

The governor added that the review of the almajiri education system will also contribute to reducing the number of out-of-school children in the country.

In his remarks, Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, advised the federal government and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to consider making financial provisions to the almajiri system.

He advised other states to adopt the remodelling initiative adopted by Sokoto, adding that it will help to also add value to Nigeria’s educational system.

On her part, Maryam Uwais, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Social Investment Programmes, commended the initiative.

“The huge numbers of marginalised youths and children who have no education, school dropouts who have no skills, have contributed to the dismal outcomes of security challenges,” she said.

“The challenges also include females who face incidents of gender-based violence, along with cases of early marriages arising from lack of education, which leads to diminished opportunities.”

She said the Pondok system focuses on character development and addressing socioeconomic challenges faced by children, as well as contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Pondok system is a form of Muslim education practised in Indonesia.