OpinionALMAJIRI EDUCATION: ENGAGING THE CIVIL SOCIETY

ALMAJIRI EDUCATION: ENGAGING THE CIVIL SOCIETY

THEWILL APP ADS 2

Developing the mental and social abilities of the nation’s over 9million Almajiris is one of the key promises that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has kept in this term of office. There is a popular saying that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Put in another way, people who are idle are easier weapons to be manipulated by mischief makers and ill-intentioned politicians.

It has been stated severally, but it is worth repeating that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on campaign tour for the 2011 Presidential election committed himself to addressing the age-long Almajiri challenge that has bedevilled the north, posing threat to the social cohesion of the region. The promise has been kept and the administration is deepening the process to ensure that the states and other non governmental institutions drive the initiative to achieve a complete turn-around, which will benefit the entire nation.

There are critical reasons why the President drove this programme of addressing the Almajiri challenge to a logical conclusion. First, the Almajiris constitute over 9million out of the estimated 10.5million Nigerian children who are out of school. At present, the nation has the highest in the world. Therefore, ensuring that the Almajiri are in school, goes a long way to critically tackling the root of the nation’s out of school problem.

Furthermore, if the Almajiris are continually left out of the educational and social system, the national development will remain stunted as a large chunk of the population will be socially excluded, with this population serving as a threat to other citizens. Already, Nigerians are witnessing the disadvantage of them being out of school.

Fundamentally, tackling the Almajiri challenge cannot be an issue for the Federal Government alone. It was for this reason that the Minister of State for Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike met with leaders of 40 prominent civil society groups on August 15 to solicit their cooperation in the implementation of the Almajiri Education Programme and other Federal Government programmes aimed at addressing the nation’s out of school challenge.

The civil society groups were drawn from different parts of the country, with the aim of ensuring that the effect of the interactive session gets to all the nooks and crannies of the nation. The objective is very clear. To engage the groups who represent different aspects of the society, outside of government, so that they can contribute their quota towards putting to rest the social problems that confront the nation because some children are not in school while their mates are in class learning.

Already, the Federal Government is directly engaging the Mallams who are custodians of Almajiris. The engagement with the Mallams is being implemented by technocrats from the Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC. This is being done preparatory to the September commencement of academic activities in the schools. These Mallams who will play key roles in the success of the programme. The interaction between the government’s technicrats and the Mallams has been fruitful. The successful take off of the historic programme is certain.

For the Federal Ministry of Education, this is the beginning of a process to undo years of neglect of the education sector by previous administrations. On this note, the Federal Government says it will continue to intensify work on increasing the school enrolment of less privileged out of school children across the country to improve the living standard of these street kids being used by politicians and other religious bigots to cause unrest and derail the development process. This was the commitment made by Minister of State for Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike who spoke at the interactive session with civil society groups.

He said: “The decision to start addressing the out of school challenge from the Almajiris was borne out of the fact that the Almajiris were more than 9million out of the 10.5million.

“Now that we have succeeded in attaining a reasonable level of success in addressing the Almajiri and girl-child education challenge, we are focusing on the boy-trader in the South East and South-South. After that, we are going to tackle the South West. Its a holistic package for our children and nation”.

He stated that almost all the Almajiri and girl child schools will be put in use by September, informing that the Federal Government and the states have enterred into agreement on modalities to sustain the schools once operational.

In his remark, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala said that the ministry adopted total transparency to ensure that the projects are delivered according to specification.

“You have seen the Minister of State for Education engage contractors publicly and personally inspect projects. We are committed to transparency and that is why we are engaging the members of the civil society”, he said.

Farouk Umar of the Transparency Centre Network, stated that the direct engagement between the minister and the civil society groups signified that the Federal Government was keen to partner with all interest groups in its quest to reach the less privileged. He opined that the Almajiri Education Programme being implemented by the Jonathan administration was one of the most positive people oriented programmes ever executed by the Federal Government.

Another northern based non governmental organization, Northern Peoples Agenda, represented by its executive secretary, Mohammed Zannah, pointed out that the fact that the management and officials of the Federal Minitry of Education are directly engaging the Mallams indicates that the administration is committed to the overall success of the programme. He believes that since the Mallams have been involved in the execution of the project, they will actively work towards its success.

National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said that the President’s programme for Almajiris and other less privileged children deserves commendation. He said that the civil society will continue to engage the government for better results in the people oriented programme. Prince Elias Odoemena of African Network for Peace Progress and Development shared the same view.

It is imperative to note that some civil society groups raised questions about the sustainability of this historic project. To this, the minister outlined some measures taken by the Federal Government to ensure that the programme survives the teething challenges expected as it takes off. First, a memorandum of understanding between the Federal Government, states and traditional rulers has been signed. This spells out the responsibilities of each party in the project. For now, it is being followed religiously. The Federal Government has also committed itself to continuous advocacy to ensure that the states and other institutions increase their investment in basic education.

Most important is the fact that the new Almajiri Education Programme does not in any way affect the Qur’anic education that the Almajiris are presently exposed to. What it brings to the table is the assurance that the Almajiris will have access to quality basic educaction in a conducive environment backed by an adequate feeding programme and quality educational resource materials. The Almajiris will also be exposed to skills that will enable them participate more actively in the society, other than beg for survival.

They will also be housed in their respective hostels with facilities that are of high societal standards. Simply put, the Federal Government has put in place several measures to ensure the retention of these Almajiris in the schools.

Before I conclude this piece, it is necessary to inform that the Federal Government has constructed three different models of Almajiri schools. Each of the models have different features. Model One has as its main feature the integration of the traditional Qur’anic school within its original location. This model has two classroom blocks, office, store, toilets, hostel block and student lockers. It also has recitation hall with store and mats, VIP toilets, borehole, overhead tank, external works and fencing.

The Model Two involves the establishment of a model Almajiri school to serve a group of Qur’anic schools. Aside the facilities mentioned above, this model has two laboratories and two workshops. It also has a Mallam’s residence, kitchen and dining facilities. The Model Three is in form of support for existing Islamiyyah and Ma’ahaf schools in the areas of rehabilitation and provision of additional infrastructure.

This programme like several others by the Jonathan administration has gone beyond rhetoric. Its now in the court of the community. Its in the position where community members and the international community will have to contribute to ensure that this phenomenal success is sustained for the complete eradication of the Almajiri system from our nation. At least, everyone agrees that this system has brought no advantage to our beloved country.

Written By Simeon Nwakaudu

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