By Ahmed Ahmed
Fulani Community Sabon Garin Yisin in Tafawa Balewa local government area of Bauchi State has expressed fear that if the government doesn’t support the community with more classrooms and educational facilities their children’s quest for education would be jeopardised.
The Community leader Hardo Luje Mohammed Appealed during an advocacy visit to the community by an NGO, Women Development Initiative for Sustenance (WODASS) at Garin Yisin Community recently.
He noted that the government should
come to their aid by complementing their efforts with classrooms and educational facilities for their children pursuit of education is not jeopardised.
According to him, about one hundred and fifty children may abandon their thirst for modern education due to the lack of permanent school buildings.
“One block of the classroom built with mud through self-help was grossly inadequate and may not meet the needs of a large population of children of the nomads,
“Who nurse ambition for both modern Islamic and Western forms of education,” he said.
The Community leader buttressed that the lone building now serves the interest of primary four classes while other pupils take lessons in the open, not even under three.
Mohammed who took the visiting team around the school site complained about the lack of teaching aids, portable water and desks as pupils have to sit on bare floors to learn,
He added that the community has to rely on indigenous graduates who now serve as volunteer teachers.
“Therefore called on the Nomadic Education agency to come to their aid by correcting the wrong perception that Fulani people dislike all forms of education, ” he said.
He assures that if a permanent structure is built, parents who have withdrawn their children will be encouraged to bring them back.
Another Fulani leader, Hardo Gambo Abdullahi of Rugan Gambo in Bula ward said a two-kilometre distance between his community and Jambil was stressful for children of the area.
He urged the Tafawa Balewa local council and SUBEB to set up a school at Rugan Gambo to enable children of the area to Benefit from the dividends of democracy.
Speaking on behalf of the NGO WODASS, Mr Magaji Barde said the visit was informed by the need to scale up best hygiene practices to check the spread of waterborne diseases.
He implored Fulanis to extend their passion for Education to embrace the best personal and environmental hygiene behaviour that would add value to their social well-being.
Barde commented on Fulani residents of both communities for their self-help effort ensuring that their request would be forwarded to the appropriate government agencies for necessary action.