Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State on Saturday flagged off the Almajiri and Islamiyyah schools census in the state.
Radda, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Qur’anic Education and Out-of-School Children, Tasiu Dahiru Dandaguro, also approved the training programme for census enumerators drawn from Almajiri and Islamiyyah schools. The training is aimed at equipping them with the necessary skills for the successful conduct of the census exercise.
The event was organised by the Katsina State Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other partners. It is expected to generate valuable data on the Almajiri and Islamiyyah education system, which will enhance the state’s standing nationally and internationally.
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According to Radda, “It is very important to have accurate data in the state because it will advance our potential nationally and internationally. Once we validate data on Almajiri and Islamiyyah schools in the state, it will be represented at the state and national levels, and also made available to non-governmental organisations operating in the country, such as UNICEF, WHO, and others.
“Here in the state, the governor has several reform-driven initiatives in this sector. Recently, we held a stakeholders’ engagement with strong participation from ulamas across the country. This data will help us obtain valid information that will guide tools and programmes to be initiated both at the state and federal levels. The importance of this exercise cannot be overemphasised, considering the reforms embarked upon by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State,” he said.
He therefore commended the Bureau of Statistics for organising the training, stressing its importance in gathering vital information needed by the state and development partners.
In his address, Saifullahi Sani Ibrahim, the State Statistician-General, said the flag-off marked the official commencement of the Almajiri and Islamiyyah schools census in Katsina State.
“This is informed by the need to have disaggregated and granular data on the number of Almajiri and Islamiyyah schools, including their demographics such as age, gender, location, and migratory history. Where do they come from? This data will inform policy initiatives aimed at reforming the comatose nature of the Almajiri education system in Katsina State. We have 200 enumerators, and each local government area will have no fewer than five enumerators,” he said.
He noted, however, that metropolitan local government areas such as Katsina, Funtua, and Daura would have more enumerators to cover the large population of Almajiri schools and ensure the exercise is completed within a few days.
He added, “We already have information on the number of schools and their locations. With proper planning, if each enumerator covers a minimum number of schools, we should be able to complete the exercise within six days.
“We have made adequate provisions to ensure we obtain the necessary information that will enable us to advise the government and other development partners interested in reforming the Almajiri system. This will help in formulating policies, implementing initiatives, and tracking progress over time.”
He further highlighted the role of development partners, noting that “UNICEF has been with us right from the ideation stage.”
The event underscores Katsina State’s commitment to data-driven development and strengthening its education sector, particularly in addressing the challenge of out-of-school children in the state.
