Three years after the federal government kicked off the Almajiri educational system in various parts of Nigeria, official figures and available facts show a yawning gap in the level of implementation and operation of the schools.

While the regulator of the sector, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) claims that the new education concept, which integrates Qu’ranic and Western models of education had successfully taken off in no fewer than 22 states of the federation, LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt that some of the schools listed under the scheme by UBEC were Arabic or Islamic schools, which preceded the almajiri schools.

Although some of the schools have been completed, they are yet to begin full academic activities, leading to the massive infrastructure put in place lying idle.

UBEC had classified the states into two categories: those with functioning almajiri schools and others where the projects are located but are yet to begin academic activities. A breakdown of the details obtained from UBEC, showed that academic activities have commenced in three almajiri schools in Adamawa State and four in Bauchi State. Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Kebbi, Lagos and Taraba states each have one functional school, while Niger State has two, Jigawa four, Kaduna five, Katsina three, Kano six, Kogi four, Kwara four,  Sokoto and Taraba one. Kano therefore has the highest number of functioning almajiri schools in the country.

LEADERSHIP Sunday however learnt that the programme is yet to take off in Kwara State.

In the southwest zone, Ogun State has two schools, Ondo one, Osun two and Oyo three,

Edo State from the south-south zone has one almajiri school, while two are yet to take off in Rivers State. There is none in any of the southeast states.

In the states where the schools are yet to commence activities, Bauchi State has four model schools, Jigawa two, Kaduna two, Katsina two, Sokoto ltwo, Niger fouir,  Gombe two, Kebbi two, Nasarawa four, Rivers 2 and Zamfara two.  The states with one almajiri school in the offing are Adamawa, Borno, Kano and Yobe. However Benue and Plateau states are conspicuously missing fro the two UBEC lists.

When our correspondent visited the locations of the schools in Katsina State, it was discovered that the federal government had completed the building of Tsangaya Model Primary School, but it was yet to commence full operations.

The federal government through the Education Trust Fund built the almajiri schools in Katsina, Batsari, Dutsinma and Funtua local government areas of the state, which are managed by the Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board.

Although the state has 5,000 almajirai in Qur’anic schools, only a few operate the western and Islamic education system. Academic activities have however commenced in the school in Katsina, located opposite the 35 Battalion Army Barracks on Jibiya Road.

The almajiri school in Dutsinma town, the headquarters of Dutsinma local government area has been shut since its completion.

Although it has capacity for 210 pupils, only 35 pupils were conscripted into the school from other conventional schools as opposed to the idea that the school should strictly be for almajirai.

Twelve subjects including Arabic, science, computer studies, English language, mathematics, social studies, health education and vocational studies are being taught in the school which has six teachers.

The school boasts of infrastructure such as student hostels and modern classrooms, vocational centre with six sewing machines, computer centre with 15 computer sets, language laboratory and an integrated science laboratory.

In Kebbi State, the project has not taken off, but two schools in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital and another in Argungu local government have been completed. The schools with adequate infrastructure have remained closed since their completion two years ago and have become hiding places for criminals and reptiles.

An official of the Kebbi State Universal Basic Education Board said the schools cost the federal government through the ETF N164million. The chairman of the board, Alhaji Haruna Dankatsina Aliero, confirmed that the schools had been completed and were awaiting take off.

In Ogun State, the Alasalatu College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Oke-Efon, Abeokuta has been designated as the almajiri model school. The school was established in 1967 by an Islamic scholar, the late Alhaji Ahmadu Rufai Akorode.

The situation is the same in Ekiti State where the Markaz Ibn Junaid, which has been in existence since February 2, 2010, has been converted to an almajiri school.

According to its coordinator, Alhaji Fajembola Daud Adewale, the school was moved to its present site in Esun Ekiti in Ikole local government area.

Fajembola who doubles as the Chief Imam of Ikole Ekiti said that the school was moved to its present site after it was taken over by UBEC. It has 10 classrooms with 77 pupils comprising 51 males and 26 females.

Also, Zumratul Mumin Al-Adabiyah Quranic and Arabic School, Osogbo and the Raodaul Dirasatul Islamiyya and Arabic School, Ikirun (Model 1) mentioned in the UBEC list are in Osun State.

They co-funded by UBEC and Osun State Ministry of Education. The Raodaul Dirasatul Islamiyya and Arabic School, Ikirun was commissioned by the deputy governor Titilaoye Tomori in July, 2013.

Two of such schools with one being built by the Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko-led administration at Denge Shuni local government named Almajiri Model Integrated School, were seen in Sokoto State.

The second school is built by the federal government at Gagi in Sokoto South local government area and named the Almajiri Model Boarding School. The school, according to its principal, Mallam Ubaidullahi Shehu, has 15 members of staff, 216 pupils, 12 classrooms, six blocks of hostels.

He identified the major challenge the school has is that it being run solely on a generating set.

None of the Alimajiri/Tsangaya schools is yet to take off in Kwara State, contrary to UBEC’s assertion that four were operational in the state.

LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt that the federal government last year forwarded a letter to the state government indicating the approval of the establishment of two Alimajiri schools in the state, work has not started on the sites of the proposed the schools by the state government.

They are located in Kaiama, Kwara North and Ilorin West in Kwara Central.

The permanent secretary in the state’s Ministry of Education, Alhaji Lamidi Alabi, said the federal government had requested for suitable locations for the take-off of the schools. He disclosed that the state government had since early last year identified the locations at Kaiama and Ilorin West local governments.

“The government has been writing the federal government to remind it to facilitate the take off of the schools,” he stated.

Alabi appealed to the federal government to expedite action on the take-off of the schools “because the state is also affected by the problems of almajiris.”

It was learnt that the federal government had built seven almajiri primary schools in Jigawa State.

In Benue State, only one almajiri school is situated in Katsina-Ala town of Katsina-Ala local government area. The ongoing strike by primary school teachers has forced the school to be shut. But there is record with UBEC that the school exists.

The chairman, SUBEC, Mr Anum Iho, confirmed that one Almajiri school is located in the state and run by state government. He said the federal government had only constructed the building and the staff and general operations of the school were being funded by his board.

The almajiri/Tsangaya primary schools are in Jakusko, Gaidam, Potiskum, Nguru, Buni-Gari local government areas and Damaturu, the state capital.

When our correspondent visited some of the schools, the projects were completed while others are pending.

One of the almajiri schools in Kaduna State established in 2010 is named as the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Almajirai Bilingual Model Boarding School and located on the outskirts of Zaria. It has 186 pupils and 13 teachers. The headmaster, Mallam Maisaratu Jibril, disclosed that the school gets its pupils from the state government through the education secretaries at the local government councils. Statistics from UBEC shows that the state has five almajiri schools.

The schools in Borno State are yet to start full operation, as they are waiting state governments and the SUBEC to equip them with the required facilities.

An official of SUBEC said the Tsangaya schools operate under three models in the state.

“We have model one, which has to do with existing Tsangayas that have accepted to be integrated; and these include the one in Mashimari, Maiduguri, which is called Goni Idris Tsangaya; and another one in Shehuri-North called Goni Suleiman Tsangaya, and Tsangaya-kura in Damboa local government

For model two, which are solely owned by government, the UBE officer said they are located in Nganzai Tsangaya in Nganzia local government; Gubio Road Tsangaya on Maiduguri-Gubio road and  Ali-Shuwar Tsangaya in Mobbar LGA.

The third model, which is is privately-owned but supported by UBE is called Baba-Buji Tsangaya in Bolori Layout.

Each of the Tsangaya are said to have more than 200 pupils.

Goni Usman said his school has 16 teachers who run two shifts – morning and afternoon.

He said those that are supposed to be on boarding session are to continue reading till 9:30pm; but since the school has not opened yet for us to run the boarding session for the 50 pupils.

The federal government Almajiri Modern School in Taraba State is located in Mutum-Biyu in Gassol local government area of the state.

In Gombe State, the three almajiri schools are yet to commence academic activities.

Though the schools’ buildings have been completed, they are yet to be put into use due to lack of basic equipment.

The three Tsangaya schools are located in Kwamki, Bajoga and Kwadon towns of the state.

In Kano State, officials said the 10 Almajiri model schools are situated in Doguwa, Dandinshe, Kanwa, Harbau, Ganduje, Garo, Danladi Nasidi, Wudil, Warawa and Koki towns.