Foundation develops curriculum for Tsangaya schools in Kano

In a bid to address street begging and formalise the almajiri system, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), KDC Foundation, has unveiled a plan to develop a curriculum and sustainability strategy for Tsangaya schools in Kano State. The plan was presented during a deliberation among stakeholders at a roundtable discussion organised by the foundation at Bayero University […]

In a bid to address street begging and formalise the almajiri system, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), KDC Foundation, has unveiled a plan to develop a curriculum and sustainability strategy for Tsangaya schools in Kano State.

The plan was presented during a deliberation among stakeholders at a roundtable discussion organised by the foundation at Bayero University Kano attended by the US Embassy, some state governments and several civil society groups.

The director of the foundation, Khalifa Usman Mustapha, said the menace of street begging could not be addressed until the almajiri system is positioned on a curriculum as other systems of education.

He said the meeting was to gather relevant stakeholders to discuss ways to address the problem of street begging and propose a better framework for the Tsangaya schools that could change them  to modern system of learning.

He said other states expected tobenefit from the project are Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Niger.

 “We want to start with 10 Tsangaya schools from each of the focal states. The programme will run as a test for the period of one year after which we will assess the progress.

 “We shall provide guidelines for opening Tsangaya schools and their management, the way they can be run such as admission, session and there should be time for opening and closing,” he said.

He added that the programme, funded by the US Embassy, would support the schools with some funds to cater for their needs throughout the one-year project, and the foundation would later consider covering all the 19 states of the North.

The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Qur’anic and Islamiyya Schools Management Board, Gwani Yahuza Danzarga, said the state government was ready to work with the foundation in ensuring the success of the project.

He said the government was committed to the project with a view to addressing street begging and ensuring that Tsangaya schools are put under systems that would handle their challenges.

The executive secretary said the Tsangaya system of studies has its own categories from primary to professorship, adding that until people are sensitised, they would not understand and value the education.

Other stakeholders at the event suggested that the plan should also provide ways in which the Tsangaya students could venture into creativity and innovations that would give them skills to depend on while in schools and after completing their studies.