The Federal Government has approved a National Policy on Almajiri Education, marking a historic step toward inclusive learning and the formal integration of the Almajiri system into Nigeria’s national education structure.
The approval was announced at the 2025 National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held in Akure, Ondo State, and is being hailed as a transformative milestone in the nation’s education sector.
The new policy, initiated and driven by the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE) under its Executive Secretary, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idris, seeks to provide millions of previously excluded children with access to structured, quality education.
For the first time in Nigeria’s history, Almajiri children will no longer be classified as out-of-school. The policy formally recognizes the Tsangaya learning system – long regarded as non-formal – as part of the national education framework.
According to the Federal Ministry of Education, led by the Ministers of State and Education, Dr. Moruf Tunji Alausa and Prof. Suwaibah Sa’id Ahmad, the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, which prioritises inclusive and equitable education.
Key provisions of the new policy include: Harmonisation of curricula across Tsangaya schools; Integration of literacy, numeracy, critical thinking, and skills acquisition; Teacher training and stipends; Improved funding and supervision; Proper learner documentation and parental engagement; and Minimum infrastructure and WASH standards.
Dr. Idris described the approval as “a long-overdue reform that ensures the Almajiri child is counted, recognised, and in-school”.
The Commission also expressed appreciation to development partners, particularly the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) – PLANE, whose technical and financial support was instrumental to the policy’s success.
Education experts have hailed the move as a watershed moment in addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, which has disproportionately affected children in the North.
“This is not just a policy—it’s a promise fulfilled. It reaffirms our national commitment to leave no child behind”, Dr. Idris said.
