KADSUBEB Moves to Cut Out-of-School Numbers, Enrols Almajiri Pupils
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) has begun enrolling Almajiri pupils into eight free government-owned boarding schools as part of efforts to tackle the state’s out-of-school children crisis.
The initiative allows pupils to continue their Qur’anic and Tsangaya education while simultaneously receiving conventional Western education.
Speaking during the screening and enrolment exercise on Saturday in Kaduna, Principal Education Officer, Access and Equity, KADSUBEB, Magaji Mohammed, said the eight schools were established specifically to provide integrated education for Almajiri children.
He listed the schools as Jagindi in Jema’a Local Government Area (LGA), Jere in Kagarko, Labar in Igabi, Maraban Gwanda in Sabon Gari, Hunkuyi in Kudan, Anchau in Kubau, Soba and Dan Alhaji in Lere LGA.
Mohammed said the programme was designed to reduce the number of out-of-school children without disrupting their Qur’anic education.
“It is a very good strategy for reducing out-of-school children because it allows them to continue with their Qur’anic education while acquiring conventional education,” he said.
According to him, the pupils were mobilised from communities through KADSUBEB Social Mobilisation Officers across the LGAs, who engaged Alarammas, or Qur’anic teachers, to explain the benefits of the programme.
He said the Kaduna North and Zaria clusters participated in Saturday’s exercise, with more than 100 pupils expected to be enrolled.
Mohammed attributed the turnout to effective community mobilisation and the commitment of the Kaduna State Government, with support from UNICEF, to ensure that every school-age child is in school.
He stressed that the programme was open to all eligible Kaduna children without discrimination and was completely free, with government providing boarding and feeding.
He added that children living with disabilities were also eligible for admission, while UNICEF was monitoring the enrolment and providing learning kits and other support.
Also speaking, Acting Deputy Director, Social Mobilisation, KADSUBEB, Sanusi Haruna, said the annual enrolment exercise was conducted in line with established screening guidelines already communicated to the LGAs.
He said the guidelines were designed to ensure that only eligible pupils were selected for admission.
Head of Department, Social Mobilisation, Kaduna North LGA, Hashiya Aliyu, described the schools as an opportunity for eligible Almajiri children to acquire both Qur’anic and formal education at no cost.
She urged the pupils to remain committed to their studies, stressing that education would equip them with knowledge and skills for the future.
Similarly, Secretary of the Tsangaya Association, Kaduna State branch, Aliyu Jibril, urged the pupils to embrace the integrated education programme.
Jibril said Western education would not prevent the children from pursuing Qur’anic studies, but would give them additional skills and opportunities to become self-reliant and contribute to their families and communities.
UNICEF is supporting KADSUBEB’s efforts to bring out-of-school children into the formal education system through the integrated Qur’anic and Tsangaya education programme.
