GOVERNOR Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, has unveiled New Curriculum and operational guidelines for Quranic Schools, popularly known as “Tsangaya” Schools, in Six states.
The Curriculum and operational guidelines were developed by a Non Governmental Organisation ‘KDC Foundation,’ under the Community Library Project III.
The guidelines were adopted by stakeholders, including Educational Experts, Tsangaya Teachers and government agencies from Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger States.
Ganduje, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna, commended the Foundation for designing the guidelines.
He said, ” the new curriculum and operational guidelines, would assist in improving the Study of the Holy Qur’an among students.
“They will also give an opportunity of integrating some subjects into the Qur’anic Schools for the benefit of students.”
Ganduje revealed that in Kano state, the government had already launched free and compulsory education for all School age Children.
According to him, the government had also established an Anti Street Begging Agency, to fight street begging.
He therefore assured that the state government supports such projects.
Earlier, the Project Director, Khalifa Dankadai, said that the project selected 60 Tsangaya schools, 10 in each of the Six states.
He said that the stakeholders agreed that the schools would provide among them who would teach students some subjects.
“The Schools should be viewed as essentially Community-driven Non formal Schools.
“The schools should have a regulatory body, there should be government intervention and the reform should be a bottom-to-top approach,” he said
Dankadai said that the subjects to be taught were, “essential components of mainstream education like literacy, numeracy, personal/environmental hygiene, and civic education.
“These will give a Child an opportunity to know himself, build his life and contribute to the development of the society,” he said.
He added that a vocational training would also be introduced to enable the students become self reliant.
The National Chairman, Tsangaya Schools, Dr Sa’id Hassan, welcomed the initiative, adding,” 1,000 people have memorised the Holy Qur’an every year across the Country.”
He pointed out that most of those who memorised the Qur’an were youths.
Hassan said the initiative would enable the youths to continue to contribute positively to the development of the Society.
By ABDULLAHI RABIU, Kano