The Federal Government has announced plans to reclaim and rehabilitate the 157 Almajiri schools established during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration but abandoned in recent years.
These schools, initially handed over to the governors of the 19 northern states, were designed to address the challenges of Almajiri and out-of-school children in the region.
This development was disclosed by Dr. Idris Sani, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, during a Memorandum of Understanding signing event with the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All in Yola on Wednesday.
Dr. Sani emphasized the need to revive these schools to combat the growing crisis of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
“I have directed my Chief of Staff to finalize arrangements for the takeover of these schools, which were abandoned after their establishment,” Sani said. “We have also requested support from the Federal Government to rehabilitate them and commence normal academic activities.”
The commission is also working in collaboration with the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies to deploy teaching staff to the schools once the rehabilitation process is complete.
Dr. Sani called for a united approach to address the challenges posed by the Almajiri system, reiterating the schools’ original mission to provide education to marginalized children across northern Nigeria.
“The challenges surrounding the Almajiri system and out-of-school children are significant. We are committed to ensuring these schools fulfil the vision for which they were established,” he stated.
This move is expected to bolster efforts to reduce the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the northern region, where educational inequality remains a pressing concern.