Many almajirai, few model schools in Sokoto

Dr Dikko Suleiman stated this in Daura, Katsina State, when he paid a visit to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk, recently. The programme was launched in Sokoto State in 1999 by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.Out of the 152 schools constructed under the programme, Sokoto State got nine according to the Chairman of […]

Dr Dikko Suleiman stated this in Daura, Katsina State, when he paid a visit to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk, recently. The programme was launched in Sokoto State in 1999 by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Out of the 152 schools constructed under the programme, Sokoto State got nine according to the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Musa Garba Maitafsiri.
Professor Maitafsiri said the schools were situated in different local governments of the state and that they have all been put into use. He also said more schools would be constructed in other local governments with clusters of traditional Qur’anic and Tsangaya schools with a view to converting them into model schools.
He also assured Islamic scholars in state that government is committed towards improving the wellbeing of pupils of Qur’anic and Tsangaya schools.
However, in spite of this development, Qur’anic scholars in Sokoto have expressed disappointment on the manner the programme is been implemented in the state.
The scholars alleged that the programme makes little or no impact on the pupils of Qur’anic and Tsangaya schools in the state. They said though the programme is capable of addressing problems affecting traditional Qur’anic schools, it has been politicised in the state.
They alleged that all the promises made by the government concerning Qur’anic schools have not been fulfilled.
Malam Muhammad Salisu a leader of Mallamawa Islamiyya School in Amarawa Unguwar Tudu of Illela Local Government Area of the state expressed disappointment on the poor implementation of the programme.
He said in spite of having the highest number of Qur’anic and Tsangaya schools in the state, Ilela local government has not a single Almajiri model school.
“We thank God that we are still running the school in the traditional way that we are used to. Whoever relies on government to run his school will end up closing it. We are faced with lots of problems but because government is not assisting us, we are still battling with our problems to maintain the schools,” he stated.
He said that pupils of the schools have no befitting shelter, no food; in most cases they don’t eat three times in a day and they don’t have enough clothes as well. They virtually relied on begging for feeding and clothing.   
Salisu added that his school had over 500 pupils that came from Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states with only five teachers manning it. They are being paid monthly allowances, affirming that no government has ever offered assistance of any kind to the school.
But he recalled that, a team of government officials had visited the school from Abuja and promised to assist the school but that four months after the visit nothing has come from the government.  
He said: “We have heard series of promises by various government officials; some have promised to provide us with foodstuff such millet, rice, maize and corn among other items, while others promised us monthly allowance but none of these promises has been fulfilled. We are still running our school in our traditional way, whenever we have a problem we have to beg wealthy individuals to come to our rescue for the sake of Allah.”
However, he said Qur’anic scholars in the state are in need of government assistance and willing to adopt any system that will improve their way of teaching provided it does not contravene the teachings of Islam. “If for instance government constructs a school for us, provides us and our pupils with food, water and shelter we will accept that but where it comes with deception we will definitely reject it.”
He said when government introduces anything that contravenes the teaching of Islam into the traditional Qur’anic education system, they will vehemently reject. He cited example with the way government is handling public schools, saying “our public schools are dilapidated with no provision of adequate teachers and no teaching and learning facilities as well.”
Another scholar and leader of Auni Rahmani Qur’anic school at Unguwar ‘Yar-Kara in Ilela local government, Malam Ahmad Jibirin, also complained about lack of food, shelter and medical care for both students and teachers of the school.
“Honestly, we are in dire need of befitting shelter, food and medical care for our students. Presently the pupils rely on begging for their three square meals. I have never received any assistance from government.
“But recently some government officials from Sokoto came here and informed me that my school was selected by government as one of the schools to be converted into Almajiri model school. They also told me that the local government will provide the land and the federal will construct the school but since they left they never came back here again,” he said.
He added that the visit raised his hope that the problem of accommodation that has been affecting the school would be over but the promise appear to have died a natural death as nobody came back to him concerning the issue again.
He lamented that the over 40-year-old school with over 600 pupils has never been assisted by local, state or federal government.
He pointed out that students of the school cut across Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi and Zamfara states adding that they do not admit students from Niger Republic because they do not comply with rules and regulations laid down by the school.
 “In our rules no student should indulge in menial jobs such as house boy and or local dry cleaning among others but the Nigerien students do not comply with this rule,” he said.
Jibirin said he has enrolled some of his students into Western schools to enable them access both Qur’anic and Western education.
He said: “Presently we have 90 students studying in various secondary schools in the state. We will never wait for the government because we are tired of unfulfilled promises.”
In Wurno local government, Malam Muhammadu Bello said he was tired of advising government on how to improve the Qur’anic education system.
Also, in Sokoto South, another scholar, Malam Dan Malam Dan Sako, said they have at no time received even a single book from government as a form of assistance and that they have never been asked to present any student for admission into an Almajiri model school.