By Aliyu Bala Gerengi, Gombe
The Gombe State Government has reiterated its commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state through strategies aimed at increasing enrolment at all levels of education.
The Commissioner for Education, Associate Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, stated this at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting on Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education held in Gombe.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Abubakar Hassan, said the state government, in collaboration with relevant organisations, was making concerted efforts at the grassroots to address the challenge of out-of-school children.
She explained that the establishment of the Gombe State Basic Education and Skills Transformation Programme (GO-BEST) was among the measures adopted by the government to improve the quality of education and increase enrolment in public schools.
Professor Maigari also highlighted the role of the Gombe State Tsangaya and Almajiri Commission in improving the quality of Almajiri education through the training, retraining and certification of teachers with recognised qualifications.
She commended the organisers of the engagement and assured participants of the state government’s continued support towards addressing challenges affecting the education sector.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, Dr Balarabe Shehu Kakale, said the programme was being implemented in Gombe in view of the measures introduced by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to strengthen Almajiri and Tsangaya education.
Dr Kakale noted that the construction of Tsangaya and Almajiri schools, as well as the establishment of a dedicated commission, had further demonstrated the state government’s commitment to accelerating progress in the programme.
He also presented approved documents and relevant gazettes supporting Almajiri, Tsangaya and Nomadic Education in Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Professor Hassan Bello, described the engagement as timely, saying the Board was working closely with the Ministry of Education and the State Tsangaya and Almajiri Commission to develop programmes aimed at improving Almajiri and out-of-school children education.
Professor Bello urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the engagement towards supporting the programme and achieving its objectives.
Other speakers included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Almajiri and Tsangaya Education, Sayyada Aminatu Dahiru Usman Bauchi; Secretary-General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Alhaji Sale Danburam; Provost of A.D. Rufai College of Education, Legal and General Studies, Misau, Dr Muhammad Mujtapha Abdulkadir; and the Gombe State Coordinator of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Mr Thauya Elkesa.
They expressed optimism that the programme would go a long way in addressing barriers to education and pledged their support towards its success.
Scholars and representatives of various organisations also attended the engagement, including Goni Alaramma Mai Babban Allo, Goni Musa Checheniya, representatives of FOMWAN Gombe Chapter, Secretary Rabia and Sheikh Yahaya Bello, among others.
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