Local council backs Namadi’s almajiri education reform
By: Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
In a move to complement the Jigawa state government in strengthening ongoing reform of the Tsangaya education system, Buji Local Government Council has distributed food items to 25 Tsangaya school teachers in the area.
The intervention aligns with the vision of the Jigawa State Tsangaya Education Board to reform, regulate and integrate the traditional Qur’anic education system into a more structured model that combines Islamic studies with formal education and vocational skills.
Tsangaya schools are informal boarding schools imparting Islamic knowledge to children from various communities. Many of the pupils, popularly known as Almajirai, often rely on alms and street begging for daily survival.
Speaking during the distribution exercise over the weekend, the Chairman of Buji Local Government Council, Architect Najeebullah Falalu Tukur, said the council distributed 300 bags of 10kg rice and 110 cartons of spaghetti to the registered Tsangaya schools.
He explained that the intervention was facilitated by the Jigawa State Government under Governor Umar Namadi as part of broader efforts to reform the Tsangaya system and improve the welfare of Almajiri pupils.
According to him, the state government recently established the Tsangaya Education Board to drive the formalisation and modernisation of Qur’anic schools across the state.
Tukur noted that the initiative is designed to transform Tsangaya education into a structured system that integrates Islamic learning with formal education and vocational training, thereby equipping pupils with knowledge and practical skills for self-reliance.
He added that under the new framework, Tsangaya schools and their teachers are being registered and profiled by the government to ensure proper regulation and support.
“The establishment of the Tsangaya Education Board is a major step toward reforming the system. The aim is to modernise Tsangaya education, integrate it with formal schooling and skills acquisition, and ultimately contribute to achieving Universal Basic Education in the state and the country,” he said.
The council chairman explained that the 25 beneficiaries were selected from the list of Tsangaya schools already registered under the board.
He said the items were distributed at the directive of Governor Namadi as part of the administration’s commitment as parts of transportation process and supporting vulnerable members of society, particularly Almajirai who depend largely on community support.
Tukur further noted that the gesture also complements the ongoing Ramadan feeding support for Alarammas who devote their time to teaching and mentoring pupils in Tsangaya schools.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, one of the Alarammas, Malam Suraja Sagu, commended the council chairman and the Jigawa State Government for the intervention.
Sagu, who cited verses from the Holy Qur’an and Hadith on the virtues of feeding the needy, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, prayed for Governor Namadi, asking Allah to grant him wisdom, protection and continued success in leadership.
