Data from a recent survey by the Sokoto State Government has indicated that an estimated 776,000 out-of-school children spread across 23 Local Government Areas are roaming major streets and roads in the State.
The State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Malam Jabir Sani Maihula who disclosed this said the survey was carried out by some officials of the ministry returning them to school.
Malam Maihula said that the survey also identified 7,000 as Almajiri pupils roaming the major streets of the state metropolis begging day and night for alms.
He noted that the state government has taken measures to return the 776,000 children to school.
According to him, the state government in collaboration with the NAPTIP and other relevant stakeholders have held a series of meeting and would soon come out with modalities on the issues.
However, the federal government is expecting an intervention from the World Bank where these challenges would be properly addressed.
Parts of the interventions include the establishment of Modern Almajiri School in each of the three Senatorial Districts of the Sokoto State.
The commissioner explained that the state government has formally forwarded its request to the minister of education and the executive secretary of Almajiri Commission and Out of School children on the need for the establishment of modern Almajiri schools and other programmes.
