Sokoto state government is mulling the adoption of the
Indonesian Pondok Pesantren Madrasah system of education as an alternative to
the existing Almajiri system in the state.
The state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stated this on
Sunday when he received the Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria, AVM Usra Hendra
Harahap during his courtesy visit to the Government House, Sokoto.
The Pondok system employs mosques and langgar (a blend of
Islamic and Western education) as well as adopts existing local institutions
such as surau (Islamic assembly buildings) and pesantren (a Muslim school in
Indonesia operated by religious leaders) as the places for Muslims to study
Islam.
Tambuwal explained that for the state government to have a
home grown system similar to the Pondok, it will consult the Sultan of Sokoto
and other stakeholders in order for them to have a buy-in.
The state government, the governor noted, is not in a hurry
to ban the Almajiri system as some states had done without providing an
alternative. He expressed confidence that the Pondok system once adopted
"can serve as an alternative to the Almajiri system."
"We are intensifying efforts to ensure that the Pondok
system is adopted before banning the Almajiri system. This is because we are
desirous of ensuring that Sokoto children are exposed to both Western and
Islamic education," Tambuwal said in a statement signed by his Special
Adviser Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello.
While expressing gratitude to the Indonesian government for
taking interest in Sokoto, he assured the Ambassador that his visit will deepen
Indonesia's relationship not only with the state but also the country, with
which it shares religious, cultural and climatic similarities.
He said that the state was already pursuing further ties
with Indonesia in the areas of healthcare, economy, Islamic models of business
and economic enterprises.
Gov. Tambuwal further applauded the Indonesian government
for agreeing to send
experts to share knowledge with the state on economic
inclusion derivatives.
