Assessing Sources of Support and Adequacy of Facilities for Almajiri Schools in Katsina State, Nigeria

This study assessed sources of support and adequacy of facilities for the Almajiri system (Non- formal Arabic school system) in Katsina State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was employed by the researchers. Sixty-five (65) Mallams (Arabic teachers) were purposively selected from twelve (12) Almajiri schools in Katsina State. The data was collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire titled: ‘‘Source of Support for Almajiri Education System Questionnaire (SSAESQ)’’ and ‘‘Facilities Available for Almajiri Education System Questionnaire (FAAESQ)’’with test-retest reliability coefficients of 0.87 and 0.83 respectively. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data collected. Findings revealed that vast majority of the respondents (96.9% to 100%) indicated that they do not have regular meetings with the local government officials, state government officials and religious leaders. Moreover, most Mallams rate support for Almajiri education from politicians, Almajiris’ Parents/Relatives, Mosques and Muslim societies as poor. All the Mallams (100%) rate provision of furniture as poor. Most of them also rate feeding, toilets facilities, salaries of Mallams and Islamic materials in Almajiri schools as poor. Based on these findings, it is recommended that there should be regular meetings between the government and Mallams in order to monitor activities in these schools,
also, government at all levels and stakeholders.

Keywords: Assessing, Sources of funds, Almajiris, Mallams, School Facilities