The Senate has urged the Federal Government to upgrade the existing Almajiri model schools and build more to increase the number of school enrolment.

The upper chamber on Tuesday also called on the National Orientation Agency to initiate a program on the almajiri issue and its negative impacts on the children in the society.

These resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Muhammad Aliero (Kebbi Central), entitled `The need to integrate Almajiri Education into the modern system of education in Nigeria’.

Aliero commended the various efforts of government aimed at tackling the issue in society.

“Over the years, the Federal Government of Nigeria had made commendable efforts to reduce the menace of street begging by introducing Universal Primary Education (UPE) Scheme 1976 and re-introduce Universal Basic Education (UBE) in September. 1999.

“The past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan embarked on the laudable project by building boarding almajiri integrated model schools in which these children are enrolled and given both Islamic and Western education

“Disturbed that despite Governments efforts at integrating the Almajiri into the modern education system, the implementation of the policy has not achieved the desired result.

“Senate calls on the Federal Government to upgrade the existing Almajiri Model School and build more to increase the number of schools enrolment, thereby reducing the number of out of school children on the streets.

“Mandate its Committee on Basic and Secondary Education to come up with ways and means of collaborating with state governments on how to get the 14 million children that are currently out of school enrolled in Basic and Secondary Education programmes.

“Call on the National Orientation Agency to initiate a sensitisation programme specifically on the issue of the Almajiri and its negative impacts on the children in the society, especially in the northern part of Nigeria. “

Supporting the motion, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi (Niger North) noted that the motion of the out of school children was embedded in the agenda of the 9th Senate as one of the major hurdles the assembly have to deal with.

According to him, children not getting basic education is an infringement on their basic rights, pointing out that this issue has lingered for too long, and requires the full attention of all stakeholders.

He pointed out that the success of the country hinges on educating the Almajiri.

“Mr president you flagged off this particular issue of out of school children as a major impediment that this 9th senate must tackle.

“And I think that the fact that some states in the north are finally rising up to the occasion shows that this issue requires our attention and it is long overdue.

“It is an abuse of the right of these children, and, of course, many of these children if you have any engagement with them, you will not know even why they’re brought to where you see them.

“I think the bottom line here is the fact that we must acknowledge that no matter how well other children are educated, no matter how we give education to our children, these children that are abandoned in the name of Almajiri system will come out to be the key determinants of the success and progress of our country.

“Because those who are left unattended to, who are left unkempt, uneducated and illiterate will definitely in time grow up to know nothing other than to be recruited into criminality and other vices which abound in the country today. “

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the motion was moved during senate plenary under the point of order 42.

NAN