The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Katsina State Government have partnered to integrate core subjects, including Mathematics and English, into the Almajiri (Tsangaya) education system.

As part of the initiative, 100 Almajiri school proprietors from six local government areas Rimi, Katsina, Mani, Baure, Kafur, and Kankara were mobilised to participate in a one-day workshop aimed at modernising the curriculum. The programme, held in Katsina, was organised by the State Agency for Mass Education with support from UNICEF.

Mutaka Mukhtar, UNICEF Kano Field Office Education Specialist, said participants were expected to develop action plans to incorporate Western education into their Qur’anic schools without compromising the traditional curriculum.

“At UNICEF, we promote education as a fundamental right of every child,” Mukhtar said. “Katsina faces significant security challenges that prevent many children from attending school. We are encouraging Tsangaya school proprietors to provide quality basic education within their environment.”

The workshop also aimed to engage proprietors on the benefits of allowing pupils to acquire English, Maths, and other core subjects, equipping them for broader opportunities while maintaining their Qur’anic studies.

Prof Umar Alqali of the University of Maiduguri’s Faculty of Law highlighted the scale of the initiative, noting that Katsina has more than 8,000 Tsangaya schools serving at least 500,000 children. He emphasised that integrating Western education is crucial for daily life skills and future opportunities.

Abdulbaki Lawal-Lema, UNICEF focal person at the Katsina State Agency for Mass Education, added that this batch of 100 proprietors was carefully selected from six local government areas to ensure maximum impact and sustainability.

“This initiative ensures that Almajiri children are not denied their right to education and can realise their full potential,” Lawal-Lema said.