FG denies plan to scrap National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies
The Federal Government on Wednesday denied reports that it plans to scrap the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), which has been in existence since 1960.
It is the federal examination and regulatory body responsible for curriculum development, standardisation and certification of Arabic and Islamic education in the country.
Established in 1960 to oversee Arabic and Islamic schools in Northern Nigeria, the board received national recognition as an examination body in 2011 and became fully autonomous in 2017.
NBAIS conducts three major examinations annually, including the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination (SAISSCE) and the Tahfeez Examination for students specialising in Qur’anic memorisation and sciences.
Its certificates are recognised by the Federal Ministry of Education and accepted by many tertiary institutions in Nigeria as equivalent to other national secondary school qualifications.
There has been widespread claims that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly are working to scrap it and sack its staff.
However, a statement issued by Folasade Boriowo, the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education said that claim was “false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry has not initiated any bill before the National Assembly seeking the abolition of NBAIS, nor has the Federal Ministry of Education proposed, initiated, endorsed, or supported any policy aimed at scrapping the Board or undermining its statutory mandate.”
The ministry said NBAIS remains a duly recognised examination and certification body operating within the framework of Nigeria’s education system.
It expressed concern about the false information, assuring that the government will continues to support all legally established educational institutions and examination bodies in accordance with extant laws, national education policies, and the principles of inclusiveness, equity, and equal opportunity.
