NEDC, Arabic Language, trains 600 Tsangaya teachers in addressing out-of-school children.
By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri
The North East Development Commission (NEDC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Ngala, has begun the training of 600 Tsangaya teachers to address out-of-school children in the Northeast.
According to the commission, the two-week train-the-trainer workshop was to improve the standard and quality of Islamic and Arabic education in the Tsangaya and Islamiyya schools in the region.
Declaring the training session open in Maiduguri, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, said, “This initiative marks a bold and pragmatic step towards addressing the most pressing educational challenges confronting the Northeast.
“As well as the problems associated with the millions of out-of-school children in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states.
“This is a shining example of the partnership between the two institutions that can be achieved by driving the shared vision of human capital investments and national development.
The minister continued by stating that “this is the beginning of a sustainable model in improving the quality and standards of Islamic and Arabic education in the Tsangaya schools.
He noted that the training of teachers could deepen their understanding of the Arabic language, particularly in the critical areas of grammatical rules and phonological accuracy.
He explained that the training of teachers seeks to prevent the misapplication and misinterpretation of Arabic grammar, warning that they can sometimes lead to doctrinal confusion or misunderstanding among the students and parents.
Alausa also acknowledged the commitment and giant strides of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s repositioning of the Nigerian education system, adding that the training of teachers is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.
The minister noted that Tinubu’s vision for inclusive, accessible, and quality education has inspired initiatives, including his special appreciation to Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.
According to him, the governor has revolutionised education in the state by supporting the success of training the 600 teachers.
He added that the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, and other traditional rulers from the region have supported the training programme by providing the moral and cultural legitimacy needed for the training in the Northeast.
While thanking the commission for providing opportunities and livelihoods for the people, he urged the managing directors of the other five commissions to emulate NEDC’s managing director, Mohammed Alkali.
He commended the Executive Director of the Nigeria Arabic Language Village, Prof. Ibrahim Muhammad, for his leadership and dedication that have brought the training initiative to a success in the Tsangaya and Islamiyya schools, including the national aspiration for inclusive education.
Alausa, therefore, called for a renewal of commitment to educational excellence, cultural preservation, and the empowerment of the next generation.
“To the trainees, he urged them to take full advantage of this opportunity and to become agents of change in their communities.
The success of this pilot programme will pave the way for future expansions with greater impact across the country.
The Deputy Governor, Umar Usman Kadafur, noted that Arabic language education is not only a cultural and religious asset but also a bridge to broader academic and diplomatic opportunities for the youths.
