Government urged to integrate Islamic schools in learning process

By Dennis Ndiewo(Education News Kenya — https://educationnews.co.ke/news/government-urged-to-integrate-islamic-schools-in-learning-process)

The government has been urged to integrate dugsi and madrassa Islamic schooling in the mainstream education system to boost enrolment in the North-Eastern region.

National Council of Nomadic Education of Kenya (NACONOEK) teachers in the Islam classes be in the government payroll, and the centres act as feeder schools in places inaccessible to secular schools.

 Council Secretary Harun Yusuf said this would boost enrolment as the learning programmes target about two million children.

 He said dugsi and madrassa are funded by the community and have high enrolment than public and private schools.

He said the learning could be successful in Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, Isiolo, Lamu, Mombasa, and Tana River counties.

“The bottom line is to end the exclusion of some section of education sector where education ministry hasn’t been in charge,” said Yusuf.

Many parents prefer their children to attend private schools offering a curriculum that integrate Islamic studies and formal education.

Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane supported the integration proposal saying it would help check violent radicalism amongst the youth. He noted that the youth who join terror groups lack strong Islamic teaching.

 “The move will be a positive step aimed towards lifting the long-abandoned and marginalized sector in the remote north-eastern region,” said Pharhear Hajjir, a resident in Garissa.