Gombe gov’t partners NBAIS on Almajiri, out-of-school children

Gombe State government is seeking partnership with the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) in the promotion of almajiri education and the worrisome rate of out-of-school children in the state.

Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya stated this during an advocacy and sensitization meeting with the management of NBAIS in Kaduna recently.

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The governor, represented by the Commissioner of Education of the state, Dr. Abu Dahiru, in company of the State Coordinator of Better Education Service Development for All (BESDA), Dr. Abubakar Baffa Ahmed and the Special Adviser to the governor on Budget, Planning and Development,Dr. Ishiyaku M. Mohammed, expressed concern on the rate of out-of-school children in the state and entire region.

The visit, according to the governor, was to seek ways to best improve Arabic and Quranic education in Gombe State particularly the Tsangaya education, capacity building of teachers and also on out-of-school children.

“Our desire is for the Almajiri to pass through a school and be recognised, and we are sure NBAIS will give such an opportunity for quality assurance, conduct exams and issue certificates that are attainable anywhere in Nigeria,” he said.

Earlier, the coordinator of BESDA Dr Ahmed said effort was on to mop up out-of-school children, especially girl-child, and also to stop street begging of any kind.

Responding, the Acting Registrar of NBAIS, Professor Muhammad Shafiu Abdullahi, expressed the board’s readiness to collaborate with Gombe State in all areas possible, stressing that the state had contributed immensely to the board.