KADPOLY Rector opposes scraping Almajiri system of education

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Kaduna Polytechnic Rector, Professor Idris Bugaje has kicked against the idea of scraping the Almajiri system of education in the Northern part of Nigeria.
According to him , Almajiri education should not be scrapped due to its complexity, but upgrade it.
Prof. Bugaje, who stated this during the closing ceremony of a Capacity Building Workshop for Technical and Vocational Teachers in Kaduna yesterday
Bugaje, who lauded the initiative of Katsina State Government for sponsoring its teachers for the training in Kaduna said, the Almajiri system of education has been around for over a thousand years, rather than talking about scrapping it , government should look for a way to improve the system.
Although, Bugaje condemned streets begging, especially amongst the youths, just as he opined that skills acquisition be included in the curriculum of the Almajiri system of education.
The Rector who blamed the colonial system of government for the woes, says: ” It is very important that government reintroduces skills acquisition in the system, because this has been the practice for the past 950 years, and it was during the colonial system that begging came into the Almajiri system of education in Nigeria”.
He further explained that Almajiri system of education is still running perfectly in country like Cameroon, Chad and in Sudan without any form of begging.
” Anybody who attempt to Scrap the system would fail”, he concluded.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director Inspectorate Department, Katsina State Science and Technology Education Board, Lawal Yusuf Yajigiri said, streets begging in the Northern part of Nigeria is worrisome, hence the need for government to invest in the Almajiri system of education.