Sokoto targets 4,000 Quranic schools for modern education

A total of 4,000 Qur’anic schools have been targeted for incorporation into the integrated school systems designed by the Sokoto state government.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary School, Dr Jabbi Kilgori disclosed this during UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Pernille Ironside’s monitoring visit to ongoing projects at different communities across the state.

Kilgori expressed optimism that enrolments into conventional primary and Qur’anic integrated schools would be enhanced.

He added that a scheme to employ teachers within communities of the host schools had been designed to prevent recurrent cases of absence of teachers.

The Commissioner explained that teachers’ absence was usually a concern as they were recruited from far places.

He added that a committee of traditional rulers under the leadership of Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar had been put in place to facilitate the programme and ensure high enrollment in view of social, traditional norms and beliefs on the side of most parents on modern education perspectives in the society.

UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Pernille Ironside said increase in child enrolments into modern schools was part of the UNICEF interventions in Sokoto state and that efforts to facilitate integration of Qur’anic schools into modern education system were on course.

She expressed commitment of UNICEF and the state government towards tackling malnutrition among children, improving community hygiene and primary school enrolment in Sokoto state.