By Najib Lawan Dambazau
The Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, SAN, has commenced consultations with founders and operators of Tsangaya schools as part of efforts to reform Almajiri education and welfare in the state.
Maude, who is the chairman of the Advisory Committee on Almajiri Education and Welfare Reform, began the consultation tour on Wednesday, visiting selected Tsangaya schools across three local government areas of the state.
The committee visited the Tsangaya of Alaramma Malam Uba, Sarkin Malaman Dawakin Kudu, in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area; the Tsangaya of Malam Abdullah Farin Gwani in Hotoro, Tarauni Local Government Area; and the Tsangaya of Malam Babba in Gidan Maza, Tukuntawa, Birni Local Government Area.
During the visits, the committee engaged founders and teachers on the challenges confronting the traditional Qur’anic education system and sought their recommendations on ways to strengthen it.
The team also interacted with students and observed their learning environment to gain firsthand knowledge of how Qur’anic education is being conducted in the schools.
Maude expressed satisfaction with the students’ commitment to Qur’anic learning and commended the founders and teachers for sustaining the Tsangaya system.
He said the consultation was aimed at ensuring that the experiences and concerns of those directly involved in the system were reflected in the committee’s recommendations.
According to him, the concerns and suggestions gathered during the visits would be documented and considered as part of the committee’s wider consultation process.
He added that the committee would submit its findings and recommendations to the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, for consideration and possible action.
Speaking on behalf of the Sarkin Malaman Dawakin Kudu, a scholar and imam of Dawakin Kudu commended Governor Yusuf for his interest in the Tsangaya system and efforts to address issues affecting the education and welfare of Almajirai.
He also commended the governor’s Special Adviser on Tsangaya Affairs, Gwani Musa Hamza Falaki, for supporting engagement with the Tsangaya community.
The committee is expected to continue its consultation tour of selected Tsangaya schools across Kano State, with further engagements involving founders, teachers and students.
The exercise is expected to help the committee develop a broader understanding of the strengths, challenges and opportunities within the Tsangaya system before submitting its recommendations to the state government.
The consultation is part of the state government’s broader human capital development and education agenda, which seeks to improve the welfare and protection of children while taking into consideration the values and positive aspects of the traditional Tsangaya system.
