Nasiru Yusuf

The chairman of Kano state Task Force on the relocation of almajirai to their states of origin Murtala Garo says 28 out of 1,146 kids brought to Kano from other states have tested positive for COVID-19.

Mr Garo, who is also the state Commissioner for local governments, said 311 other Almajiris were also diagnosed with illnesses like fever, malaria, stomach pain among others.

He made the revelation on Wednesday at the State Task Force on COVID-19 media briefing, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano.

“Your Excellency we took 419 Almajiris to Katsina state, 524 to Jigawa state, 155 to Kaduna state, 38 to Bauchi state and 36 to Gombe state. While we received 179 Almajiris from Adamawa state, 220 from Nassarawa state, 96 from Gombe state, 18 from Katsina, 92 from Kaduna state.

“Out of the 1,146 Almajiris who were tested for COVID-19, 28 of them were tested positive. While 311 were identified with other illnesses like fever, malaria, stomach pain among others. And also over 1,000 Almajiris were arrested roaming about the streets in the metropolis,” the commissioner revealed.

Mr Garo further disclosed that, 723 Almajiris, who are indigenes of Kano state, brought from other states, have been taken to their parents, and would be enrolled to new schools designed to for them.

Crying for home

In his address Mr Ganduje said, henceforth all almajiri schools in the state must comply with the state’s free and compulsory primary and secondary schools education policy.

The governor vowed that all children either Almajiri or non-Almajiri must be in formal schools.

He lamented that some of those Almajiri were even crying, to be taken to their parents.

“Those of them that were Kano indigenes and brought from other states, are being quarantined. Those that are found negative for COVID-19 we take them to their parents. While those that are positive we take them to Isolation Centre.

“We also said whoever insists to run Almajiris school he must follow the guidelines we put in place for running an Almajiri school. Parts of the guidelines include, that, school must have a curriculum which must integrate conventional fields of study, like English, Mathematics and Craft training.”

“Teachers must provide pupils with decent accommodation, good feeding system, they must have qualified teachers, there must be a system of evaluation and control, like quality assurance and there must be system of examination among other guidelines,” Mr Ganduje said.

The governor clarified that, the process was not meant to strip Almajiri teachers off their tutorship, but to integrate them into the mainstream teaching program of their pupils with new set of mentoring system, as teachers.

“Some of those Alarammas (Almajiri Teachers) are being employed and we are going to use them in the schools we are commissioning specifically for Almajiris. We are therefore calling on others to come forward and be recruited to teach in those schools,” the governor revealed.

Decline in COVID-19 cases

On COVID-19, Mr Ganduje revealed that the state is witnessing a decline in the spread of the disease.

He attributed the development to Allah’s intervention and commitment of front line health workers, journalists, traditional and religious leaders among other stakeholders.

“Though we are aware that there is no definite time for the pandemic to leave us completely, but the success story for all of us here is, we are witnessing a decline in the spread of the disease in Kano state.”

“While we should learn to always optimise our compliance with the protocols, we also understand that there are areas that we must strengthen our strategies towards them. Areas like community engagement, is absolutely necessary.

“Our health workers are doing their best and we promise to protect them all the time. So that all the necessary items/equipments needed must be provided as you are all witnessing. Things like Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) among others.

“We understand that face mask wearing has not gone down to grassroots. So we are producing more Masks through our local tailors, that will help in getting them to grassroots,” he said.