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The Chief Imam, Mararaba Mosque in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State,? Alhaji Ali Adamu, has commended the Federal Government for the introduction of the Almajiri Model Schools.
Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mararaba on Wednesday that “the scheme would take the child-beggars off the streets if judiciously implemented.
“It is a welcome initiative but the government should let the school spread to all parts of the country, especially the Northern Region,’’ he said.
The Imam, who spoke through an interpreter, had earlier expressed ignorance and surprise that such a school existed.
He, however, called on the government to intensify its enlightenment campaigns on the scheme “for those concerned to be aware of it.
“The government should equally compel those who brought these children to the city centres to take them back to their various communities to enrol in the schools. ’’
Also speaking, Alhaji Bello Mohammed, a road-side businessman, told NAN that “government should engage the services of ward and community heads to take the message to the grassroots.
“The Almajiri school programme should not be allowed to die just like the nomadic education initiative of the military regime.
“I want to believe that this model school programme, if properly implemented, would discourage people from further sending these innocent children out to engage in the acts of begging,’’ Mohammed added.
NAN recalls that President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the Almajiri schools on April 10 at Gagi in Sokoto State with 25 registered pupils.
The pupils were provided with uniforms, books and school bags.
Jonathan said at the occasion that the school was the first of 400 earmarked to be built in the 19 Northern States in the country.??
Also, the Federal Government, on April 20 approved three of such schools for Oyo State.? (NAN)