Sokoto State government has disclosed plan to replace the Almajiri system with the Indonesian Pondok education model.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal disclosed this during a meeting with the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, AVM Usra Hendra Harahap.
The Pondok model employs mosques and langgar, a blend of Islamic and Western education.
Tambuwal, however, said the state would consult the Sultan of Sokoto and other stakeholders before developing a home grown version of the Pondok model.
He said further that the government was not in a hurry to ban the Almajiri system.
“We will adopt Pondok model system to serve as an alternative to the Almajiri system,” he said.
“We are intensifying efforts to ensure that the Pondok model system is adopted before banning the Almajiri system. This is because we are desirous of ensuring that we expose Sokoto children to both Western and Islamic education,” Tambuwal added.
While expressing gratitude to the Indonesian government for taking interest in Sokoto, he assured the Ambassador that his visit would not only deepen Indonesia’s relationship with the state. But also that of the country.
Ambassador Harahap explained that his visit to the state was to further strengthen the bilateral tie between his country, Nigeria and the state.
“Let me say that my presence in Sokoto is to increase the bilateral relationship and cooperation between Indonesia and Nigeria. Especially in Sokoto State in the areas of education and agriculture, including animal husbandry,” he said.
