The emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Iliyasu-Bashar, has urged education stakeholders to ensure the success of Basic Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) in the state.
The emir, who is also the chairman, Kebbi Council of Chiefs gave the advice when the commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Magawata Aliero paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi.
The monarch advised the 504 teachers selected for the programme to take their responsibilities seriously in order to reduce the high number of out of school children in the state.
“We will support any programme aimed at educating Qur’anic children and integrating them with western education, so that they will learn how to read, write and speak English.
“We want Qur’anic children to know simple arithmetic to contribute meaningfully to our religion and society.
“This programme should succeed and I urge you to ensure its success in all ramifications,’’ he said.
Iliyasu- Bashar said he was delighted that more children are being enrolled into school.
“You should also evolve new means of ensuring that aged children are enrolled into schools.
“The present situation of out of school children is worrisome, especially children on the street roaming around in the name of seeking for Islamic knowledge,’’ he said.
“The task of ensuring the development of education is on everybody,” he said while pledging total support for the programme.
Earlier, the commissioner who went on the visit with other stakeholders told the emir that there were over 800,000 out of school children in the state.
Aliero called on the traditional rulers to support the programme to address the menace of Almajiris in the state.
Among stakeholders who spoke on the importance of the programme are, the state BESDA consultant, Professor Abubakar Bagudo and Professor Abubakar Chika. (NAN)
