By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), has unveiled a reform strategy designed to transform the educational landscape and reintegrate millions of vulnerable children back into learning.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Executive Secretary of NCAOOSCE, Dr. Muhammed Idris, said the move was to confront Nigeria’s long-standing challenge of out-of-school children.

Idris highlighted the commission’s renewed commitment to the administration of President Bola Tinubu, emphasising that addressing out-of-school children was central to the nation’s future stability, economic growth and social development.

He confirmed that the commission had adopted a “rescue, reintegrate and empower” model, integrating formal education, skill acquisition, modernised Almajiri reforms, community partnerships and robust monitoring systems.

According to him, Nigeria cannot afford to treat the out-of-school crisis as an isolated challenge.

“We actually wanted to marry the policy on alimajiri with that of out-of-school children. But we discovered that alimajiri have their own peculiarities and their own needs. They want to memorise Quran.

“So, you cannot replicate this policy across all the southern states. You cannot go to a school with a policy of an out-of-school children memorising Quran.

“So, what we are going to do is, we said we are going to have two policies that will be later matched in one book.

“A policy on alimajiri which has been accepted, and we are now starting another policy on out-of-school children.

"I want to tell you that we are going to also present to the National Council on Education so that it will be an all-encompassing policy,” he said.

He insisted that the issue intersects with poverty, insecurity, street begging, displacement and the collapse of community-level support systems.

He noted that the commission was moving beyond traditional interventions toward sustainable solutions that merge schooling, skills, nutrition, mentorship, psychosocial support and parental engagement.

The executive secretary explained that the ongoing nationwide assessments would enable the commission to identify the unique circumstances of each state, community and demographic.

“No state will be treated with a one-size-fits-all approach. What works in Kano may not work in Cross River and what applies in Maiduguri may not apply in Lagos,” he said.

The assessments, he added, would guide evidence-driven planning, resource allocation, teacher deployment and infrastructural revitalisation.

He also disclosed that the upcoming reports would offer the first consolidated national mapping of out-of-school children and Almajiri clusters, noting that the findings would strengthen inter-agency collaboration with UBEC, TETFund and state governments.

Addressing questions on the controversial Almajiri system, Idris reiterated the government’s intention to modernise rather than abolish the model.

He emphasised that the reform would maintain the cultural and religious value of Islamic learning while ensuring children receive basic literacy, numeracy, digital skills, vocational training and life skills.

He added that the commission would strengthen collaborations with Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, community leaders, and state authorities to ensure broad acceptance and long-term sustainability of the system. (NAN)