Out-of-school-children: Sokoto government earmarks N500m for learning centres

The Sokoto State Government has earmarked N500 million for the establishment of learning centres for out-of-school-children in the Gandu and Bado areas of the state.

The State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement on almajiri and out-of-school-children’s education held at the Auditorium of the Sultan Maccido Institute for Qur’anic and General Studies, Sokoto.

The engagement was organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Almajiri and Out-of-School-Children’s Education in collaboration with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of School-Children’s-Education.

Professor Ala said the state government had already paid 30 per cent of the project cost to the contractor, enabling full mobilisation to the sites for the commencement of construction work.

He explained that the learning centres were designed to provide children with a combination of basic Western education, Islamic education and entrepreneurship skills, with the ultimate goal of equipping them to become self-reliant and productive members of society.

The commissioner also disclosed that the Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF, had constructed three Digital Almajiri and Out-of-School-Children Centres across the state.

According to him, 1,816 out-of-school-children are currently undergoing training in basic literacy and numeracy as part of the state’s efforts to address the challenge of out of school children.

Speaking at the engagement, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, represented by his Special Adviser on Almajiri and Out-of-School-Children’s Education, Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakale, said the almajiri education system was undergoing major reforms at both federal and state levels.

He said the reforms were aimed at addressing street begging while integrating basic literacy, numeracy and vocational skills into traditional Qur’anic education.

Dr. Kakale also highlighted the nationwide tour being undertaken by the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School-Children’s Education as part of efforts to assess existing programmes, engage stakeholders and strengthen the delivery of Almajiri education across the country.

Also speaking, Nura Muhammad, who represented the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School-Children’s Education, emphasised the importance of the stakeholders’ engagement in developing practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing Almajiri and out of school children.

The Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on Almajiri Schools, Hon. Bashar Haliru Dogon Daji, expressed appreciation to the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Almajiri and Out-of-School-Children’s Education, Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakale, and the entire stakeholders for their commitment towards the successful conduct of the engagement in Sokoto State.

Hon. Bashar commended the participants for their valuable contributions and described the engagement as an important platform for strengthening collaboration among the federal and state governments, traditional institutions, development partners and other relevant stakeholders in addressing the challenges facing almajiri and out-of-school-children.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Sokoto State Government to supporting initiatives that will improve access to quality education and provide sustainable opportunities for almajiri and out-of-school-children across the state.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Sanusi Aliyu Binji, called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, traditional institutions, development partners and other stakeholders to improve access to quality education for vulnerable children.

The representative of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abdulrauf, Sarkin Bodinga, also attended the engagement.

The meeting was attended by heads of parastatals and directors under the Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, as well as representatives of UNICEF and Plan International, among other stakeholders.

Participants at the engagement stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to strengthen the almajiri education system, expand access to learning opportunities and ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for a productive future.