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Rep member Tijjani advocates for homeschooling to address educational challenges
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The member representing Gaya/Aljingi/Albasu Federal constituency of Kano state, Dr Ghali Mustapha Tijjani, has advocated for homeschooling as a means of addressing Nigeria’s struggling educational system.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was as he sponsored two bills in the House of Representatives to provide for homeschooling in the country.
The bills are the “Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (HB.1860)” and the “Child’s Rights Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (HB.1859)”.
The Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, which passed its first reading on Thursday, aims to provide a legal framework for homeschooling, addressing issues of access, quality, and inclusivity in education.
Speaking with The Nation on Saturday, the lawmaker said his motivation to sponsor the bill was from lessons learned during the COVID-19.
He said: “In the advanced world, their children are not hindered, their education has not been hindered. But in this part of Africa and Nigeria in particular, the educational system has been hindered. This shouldn’t have been because a child should have a right to education.”
He said any delay in a child’s learning process affects his or her progress.
Tijani highlighted the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria and argued that homeschooling could bridge this gap.
“The bill gives parents the option to educate their children at home, either by hiring a local teacher or teaching them personally, using the Nigerian curriculum,” he said.
He added that this initiative would benefit vulnerable children, including those in remote areas and Almajiri children, by providing them with opportunities for formal education.
The lawmaker emphasized the potential economic advantages of homeschooling.
“Parents who choose homeschooling reduce the strain on government infrastructure and resources. It also minimizes costs associated with uniforms, transportation, and other school-related expenses,” he stated.
Additionally, Tijani argued that homeschooling could address security concerns, as children would not need to travel long distances to schools in unsafe areas.
He also touched on moral education, saying parents can better monitor their children’s moral development and shield them from negative influences often encountered in schools.
“I’m sorry to say that most of the time, recently, there are issues of immorality that happen in our primary schools and secondary schools. Therefore, we have to protect that. And parents do try as much as possible to give their children morals, to give them a very good attitude,” he said.
When asked about the challenges of implementing homeschooling, including the cost of technology and data for online learning, Tijani clarified that the bill incorporates both online and traditional homeschooling methods.
“Parents don’t necessarily need to connect to online platforms. They can follow the Nigerian curriculum with the help of local teachers or by teaching their children directly,” he explained.
Addressing concerns about a potential decline in educational standards, Tijani argued that homeschooling could enhance quality by allowing personalized, focused learning.
“Public schools often have overcrowded classrooms, making it hard for teachers to give individual attention. Homeschooling creates an environment where children can receive one-on-one guidance,” he said.
He said the bill proposes mechanisms to ensure adherence to the national curriculum and standards.
“Uniform national exams like WAEC, NECO, and Common Entrance will serve as checkpoints to measure compliance with the curriculum,” Tijani stated.
He acknowledged the current challenges in monitoring public schools but maintained that exams would ensure consistency.
Tijani emphasised that the bill would offer an alternative, not replace traditional schooling.
“It is optional. Parents who prefer conventional schools can continue, but those unable to afford it can now have a legal option to educate their children at home,” he explained.
Tijani appealed to Nigerians, particularly the media, to support the bill, describing it as a “policy for the common man.”
He expressed optimism that the bill would receive widespread backing in the legislature and among the public.
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has debunked reaching a resolution with any individual on the trending defection rumoured to the ruling party or any other political party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, who considered the recent statement credited to have suggested a particular position as an imagination of falsehood and fragmentation of political mischief against him.
A statement posted on his official X handle @KwankwasoRM, the ex-Governor insisted he has since refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and will continue to do so for the time being.
In the said false information that went viral, Kwankwaso was quoted to have revealed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on multiple occasions, urging him to return to the APC fold.
Responding to a statement purportedly signed by one Ibrahim Rabiu, Sen. Kwankwaso insisted he had never signed or authorised any statement to be issued on his behalf.
“My attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly stating my position on the recurring political realignments. I wish to categorically state that such statements are false, unfounded, and products of political mischief.
“I have refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and I will continue to do so for the time being.”
” I urge the public to only engage statements that come from my public handles and other official sources”. Kwankwaso RM.”
In a releted development, the author of the purported false statement Ibrahim Rabiu has issued a self counter, denouncing the statement as a work of devil.
“I Ibrahim Rabiu, wish to inform the general public that I was never authorised by Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to issue and release a statement on his belhalf”
“I therefore wish to tender a public apology to his person with a promise that such childish act will never be repeated in the future, please find a space in your heart to forgive me, I was misled by fake news and agents of misinformation”
The Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sunusi II, commended the Adolescent Girls Initiatives for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project for reenrolling over 30,000 adolescent girls and renovating more than 1,300 schools across the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir made the commendation while reeiving AGILE State Project Implementation Unit (SIPU) who paid him an advocacy visit recently.
Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi ll
He emphasized the Kano Emirate Council’s commitment to advocating for education and pledged continued support to ensure the enrollment, retention, transition, and completion of girls’ education in Kano.
The Emir also emphasized the importance of collaboration and synergy in implementing policies and programs that foster the development of the state and the nation at large.
AGILE Project Coordinator presenting gift to Emir of Kano
He expressed satisfaction with the AGILE project’s strong monitoring and evaluation framework, particularly in tracking the use of grants and conditional cash transfers.
In his remarks, the Kano State AGILE Coordinator, Malam Mujtapha Aminu said more than 100,000 students are currently enrolled in learning centers across 23 local government areas under the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) second chance education in Kano.
AGILE PC and Emir of Kano
He said this initiative provides out-of-school adolescent girls an opportunity to complete their secondary education, gain entrepreneurship and life skills.
According to him, the second chance education students undergo literacy, numeracy, and entrepreneurship training across 5,000 learning centers.
Athletes who participated in AGILE WEEK Games
He further explained that after nine months of instruction, the students sit for examinations and are awarded certificates equivalent to the Junior Secondary School Certificate.
“Those who enroll in the advanced literacy program also have the opportunity to sit for national examinations such as NECO and WAEC,” he added.
He said they visited the Emir’andalace to seek blessings and advocate for support to achieve their goals.
AGILE Communications Officer and games officials
The AGILE Project is a World Bank-assisted initiative implemented through Federal and State Ministries of Education, aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria.
The gale of defection from opposition political parties intensifies as two members of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Abdullahi Sani Rogo and Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
KANO FOCUS reports that both lawmakers represent Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo federal constituency of Kano State.
Both lawmakers announced their defection at plenary presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
On hand to witness the defection on the floor of the House was the national chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accompanied by some members of the national working committee of the party.
However, the Minority Whip, Isa Ali JC, faulted the defection of the lawmakers on the basis that it was against constitutional provisions.
As of Thursday, no fewer than 30 members of opposition political parties have dumped their parties to join the APC.
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