The Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Tuesday announced a ban of street begging by Almajiris.
Governor Ganduje made the announcement at the launch of the State Basic Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) and Distribution of Offer of Appointment to 7,500 volunteer teachers, held at Sani Abacha Stadium.
The effort was to fully consolidate the free and compulsory primary and secondary schools education in the state, While infusing Mathematics and English into the Almajiri system of education.
The Government believes the steps taken will address the lingering problem of street begging seen as an embarrassment to the state.
Governor Ganduje warned that henceforth, Almajiri teachers must accept the new approach put in place by the state government.
In his words, “If the almijiri teacher thinks he cannot accept the new policy he has to leave the state,”.
“When Almajiri are caught begging, it is not only that beggar is caught, but his parents or guardians. Such parents or guardians would be taken to court to face the wrath of the law,”
“This policy of free and compulsory basic and secondary education goes along with its integration of our Almajiri system into the mainstream policy implementation. This suggests that English and Arithmetic must be included in the Almajiri schools curriculum,” the governor said.
This, according to him, will give those children other types of education, while they will continue acquiring their knowledge of the Holy Qur’an.
“That will give them an opportunity to continue with their studies to secondary schools and beyond,” the governor highlighted.
“They will be posted to Islamiyyah and Almajiri schools, so that our Almajiri schools would be fully integrated under our new policy of education,”.
For many, this may be the needed strategy to address the lingering problem caused by an educationally backward North in the country.
(C) Control TV 2020.
