Use Mosques for Primary Education (makarantar firamare), Emir Sanusi Counsels Northern Govs

The emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II has advised northern state governors to use mosques in offering primary education instead of constructing more classrooms in the midst of scarce resources.

He said since there are many mosques in the northern part of the country, across local governments, they could function as primary schools during the day time and in between afternoon and evening obligatory prayers.

“By so doing, we can limit the amount we spend on school  infrastructure and devote the funds to training of teachers, which is among the critical factors that lead to positive learning outcomes”,  Emir Sanusi argued.

Speaking during the combined graduation of 2,000 in-service teachers  under the Kano State Teacher Upgrade Training Programme, the Emir maintained that the idea was feasible and cost-saving.

As proof that the idea will work, he stated that during a visit to Fez, a city in Morocco some time ago, he visited a mosque which, besides its traditional function as a place of worship, was also conveniently serving as a university with a structured course outlines and lecturers.

The Emir maintained that the separation of mosques from teaching of  formal education contributed significantly to the notion, among misguided people, that Islam is against western education.