FG to hand over almajiri schools to states- Minister

The federal government will hand over the 80 almajiri schools built
across Nigeria to the affected states, the Minister of State for
Education,Nyesom Wike, has said.
Mr. Wike, who addressed State House correspondents in Abuja after the
National Economic Council meeting, presented an update on the status
ofthe Almajiri Education Programme.
He said the schools would be handed over two weeks after the end of
the Ramadanfast.
The schools were built as part of efforts towards addressing the
problem of the high number of out-of-school children. Almajiri's are
usually children of school age who are sent, by their parents, to live
with a local Islamic teacher who usually makes them fend for
themselves by begging. It is mostly common in the northern part of
Nigeria and contributes a significant figure to the official 10.5
million out-of-school children in Nigeria.
Mr. Wike said the NEC commended the progress recorded in the education
programme and recommended the take-off of academic programmes in the
completed schools by the next academic calendar in September, 2013.
The Council also recommended that the federal government provide
textbooks, furniture and laboratory items while the state government
wouldfeed the children and provide uniforms in collaboration with the
federal Government.
The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and the Ministry of
Education will make arrangements for the handover of the schools to
the states to enhance enrolment and the success of the programme.
The Council further noted the need for a robust enrolment campaign to
encourage parents to take their children to the schools.
The National Planning Commission is to co-ordinate with the Federal
Ministry of Education and the state governors to ensure effective
implementation of the programme.