…As Governor Inuwa Lays Foundation For Construction of Untra Modern Almajiri Integrated Quranic Education Centre In Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has called on the proprietors of Tsangaya schools to embrace Government policies and programmes aimed at developing the skills and capacity of the Almajiris so that they can contribute meaningfully towards societal development.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya stated this at a stakeholders meeting convened by the Better Education Service Delivery For All (BESDA) for Islamic scholars and community leaders in the State.
The Governor said the objective of the meeting was to equip and improve the capacity of Islamic Teachers to meet the teaching needs of the 21st century.
“We are here today to discuss better ways of improving the Tsangaya education system in our dear state. Many Muslim countries like Morocco, Sudan, Indonesia have done very well in upgrading the Tsangaya system and making it fit into the requirements of our time”.
He equally noted that “Tsangaya Education programme is one of the initiatives of the Federal Government to address the problems of out-of-school children with the objectives of providing access and equity to basic education for all school age children”.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya explained that available data has revealed that the number of out of school children in Gombe State is alarming as well as the nature of the education system in the State.
He said that his administration upon assuming office in 2019 immediately declared a state of emergency in the education sector and keyed into the World Bank-supported BESDA programme in order to bridge the gap.
“BESDA has so far succeeded in mopping up over 150,000 almajiris in Gombe State through the establishment of about 676 non-formal learning centres across the State over the last two years. Similarly, we have so far constructed over 200 new classrooms and renovated over 400 others across several basic and post-basic schools.
“We have also just witnessed the laying foundation ceremony for a mega Tsangaya school at Goni Sani Tsangaya. Insha’Allah we shall construct additional of such mega schools in each of our local government areas over the next two years”.
He said the establishment of non-formal learning centres through BESDA in Tsangaya schools is aimed at introducing modern education into the Tsangaya curriculum so that children in such Schools can benefit from both educational systems.
“I therefore wish to call on the Tsangaya School proprietors to continue to embrace Government policies and programmes aimed at developing the skills and capacity of their Almajiris so that they can contribute meaningfully towards societal development”.
The Governor commended Islamic Teachers for their contributions toward the propagation of Islam by establishing educational Institutions and other outreach activities.
“This has helped humanity tremendously. I therefore urge all the various stakeholders, traditional rulers as well as other public-spirited individuals in our society to support them in this noble course”.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya expressed the hope that at the end of the meeting, participants will be more knowledgeable in advancing Tsangaya schools to greater heights.
The National Coordinator of the Better Education Service Delivery for All, BESDA Gidado Tahir represented by the State Base consultant Dr. Sani Abdullahi described Gombe State as a shining example in the implementation of BESDA programme in the country.
“Since this programme will not last for a life time, I think it behoves on states implementating same to emulate the ingenuity of Gombe State in the BESDA programme”.
The Director, Better Education Service Delivery for All BESDA in the Federal Ministry of Education, Amina Buba Haruna said the Ministry is enthused by near perfect implementation of the programme in Gombe State.
She therefore lauded Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for appointing men of goodwill and sound character to manage the affairs of the Service.
She noted that all hands must be on deck to integrate the Almajiri Education into the western system so that the children can holistically function well in a contemporary society.
Earlier, the Gombe State Coordinator of BESDA, Dr. Abdullahi Bappah Ahmed noted that the successes so far achieved by the sevice could not have been possible without the sound support of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
He described the stakeholders’ engagement meeting as necessary to consolidate on the gains so far recorded.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya was earlier at the Goni Sani Tsangaya in Bolari East where he laid the foundation stone for the construction of an ultra modern Almajiri integrated Quranic education centre.
When completed the one storey building will bear classrooms, hostels, offices and skills acquisition centre for the convenience of the pupils and their teachers.
