FG floats 400 schools for ‘Almajiris’

Posted by admin Latest Politics Saturday, February 18th, 2012

In a bold move to rid the country of the delinquent Almajiri menace, President
Goodluck Jonathan has approved the establishment of 400 Amajiri schools
across the country.

Almajiri is a derogatory term used for children of school age who prefer instead
to beg in the northern part of Nigeria.

Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i who disclosed this at the 14th
combined convocation ceremony of the Federal College of Education, Yola on
Friday explained that the establishment of the schools was in line with the
Federal Government’s effort to integrate modern education with Islamic
education.

“Federal Government intends to build 400 Almajiri schools specially designed
for that purpose. I am happy to announce that work has already started in
building those specialised schools across the country. According to the
minister, the government is doing everything possible to provide equal
educational opportunities to all school aged children in the country.

“One of the most important steps taken by the government towards that end is
the ushering in of an unprecedented ambiance of industrial harmony in the
education sector. She said federal government had also come up with a
programme to boost enrolment and retention of the girl-child in basic
education”, she stated.

Prof Rufai expressed optimism that with the establishment of the schools the
infectious Almajiri menace in the north will soon be a thing of the past.

-Africanexaminerwp_posts