Education Minister Launches Training for 600 Tsangaya, Islamiyya Teachers in Borno

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has officially started a two-week training workshop for 600 Tsangaya and Islamiyya teachers from the six states of Nigeria’s North East region.

The event began on Monday at the Nigeria Arabic Language Village (NALV) in Maiduguri and is sponsored by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).

The workshop focuses on modern teaching methods, including Arabic calligraphy, to promote peacebuilding.

This comes at a critical time as the North East continues to face renewed attacks from Boko Haram.

Represented by the Vice-Chancellor of Al-Ansar University, Professor Abubakar Kundili, the Minister praised NEDC’s Managing Director, Goni Alkali, and the staff of NALV for organising the programme.

He explained that the training aims to improve the quality of Islamic and Arabic education in Tsangaya and Islamiyya schools and to help address the high number of out-of-school children in the region.

The training will enhance teachers’ skills in Arabic grammar and pronunciation to reduce mistakes that could lead to misunderstandings of the language and religious teachings.

The Minister also recognised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s education sector and Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s continuous support for education in the state.

The Shehu of Borno, Dr Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, and other traditional rulers also supported the programme, lending cultural support to ensure its success in local communities.

Borno State Deputy Governor Dr Umar Usman Kadafur, represented by the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Babagana Malarima, described the train-the-trainer approach as a smart way to multiply knowledge and sustain the impact of the programmes across the region.

He said Arabic education opens doors to academic and diplomatic opportunities for young people and praised NALV for its dedication to excellence.

Participants were encouraged to participate fully in the workshop, as they will become future community mentors and educators.

The event also included the presentation of awards to key figures and the commissioning of a new ICT Centre at NALV named after the Education Minister, Maruf Tunji Alausa.