The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) has begun the enrolment of Almajiri pupils into integrated Qur’anic and Tsangaya boarding schools to acquire Western education.

The exercise is aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children while enabling the pupils to combine Qur’anic education with conventional education.

Magaji Mohammed, principal education officer in charge of access and equity, KADSUBEB, disclosed this during the screening and enrolment exercise on Saturday in Kaduna.

Mr Mohammed said the state had eight boarding primary schools specifically established for Almajiri pupils across the state.

He listed the schools as Jagindi in Jema’a Local Government Area (LGA); Jere in Kagarko LGA; Labar in Igabi LGA; and Maraban Gwanda in Sabon Gari LGA.

Others, he said, were Hunkuyi in Kudan LGA; Anchau in Kubau LGA; Soba in Soba LGA; and Dan Alhaji in Lere LGA.

According to him, the initiative would allow the pupils to continue their Qur’anic education while simultaneously acquiring Western education.

Mr Mohammed said the pupils were sourced from communities through KADSUBEB Social Mobilisation Officers at the local government level.

He said the officers engaged Alarammas, or Qur’anic teachers, and explained that the programme would not interfere with the children’s Qur’anic education.

Mr Mohammed said the Kaduna North and Zaria clusters were covered during the day’s exercise, with representatives from several LGAs participating.

He said more than 100 pupils were expected to be enrolled during the exercise, adding that the impressive turnout demonstrated effective mobilisation at the community level.

Mr Mohammed attributed the success of the exercise to the commitment of the Kaduna State Government to return all children to school, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

He said UNICEF was partnering with KADSUBEB to ensure that every school-age child was enrolled in school.

The education officer called on parents of Almajiri pupils to take advantage of the programme, stressing that it was open to all children in Kaduna State without discrimination.

He said the programme was completely free, with the government providing boarding and feeding for the pupils.

Mr Mohammed added that children with disabilities were being admitted into the schools, where UNICEF monitored the enrolment process and provided learning kits and other support.

Also speaking, the acting deputy director, social mobilisation, KADSUBEB, Sanusi Haruna, said the enrolment exercise was conducted annually in line with established screening guidelines.

Mr Haruna said the guidelines had been communicated to the LGAs to ensure that only eligible pupils were selected for admission.

He said the objective was to enable the children to continue their Tsangaya, or Qur’anic, education alongside Western education.

On her part, the head of department, Social Mobilisation, Kaduna North LGA, Hashiya Aliyu, said the boarding schools were government-owned and free for eligible learners.

Ms Aliyu said the pupils were expected to acquire both Qur’anic and formal education, urging them to remain focused and committed to their studies.

Ms Aliyu said knowledge was essential to achieving success and enlightenment, urging the pupils to study hard and make good use of the opportunity.

The secretary, Tsangaya Association, Kaduna State branch, Aliyu Jibril, encouraged the pupils to embrace the opportunity to combine Qur’anic studies with Western education.

Mr Jibril said acquiring Western education would not hinder their traditional Qur’anic learning but would instead provide them with additional skills and opportunities.

He urged the pupils to pay attention to their studies at the schools to which they were posted.

Mr Jibril said combining the two forms of education would enable the pupils to support themselves, their parents and communities in the future.

UNICEF is supporting KADSUBEB’s efforts to enrol out-of-school children through the integrated Qur’anic and Tsangaya education programme.