Integration of Western Education Into the Qur'anic System of Education in Northern: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

Formal education is a vital force in the development of human capital needed to achieve social regeneration. Qur'anic Education is another system of education that has been in practice in Northern Nigeria before the advent of the colonial masters. This study presents the integration process of Western and Qur'anic systems of Education in historical perspective. The introduction of Western Education met with the Muslim's resistance for the fear of the unknown. This fear necessitated the setting up of Qur'anic schools side by side with colonial schools and this development gave rise to the idea of the need for the integration of the two systems of education. The Integration project as presented in this study intends to give the Qur'anic pupils, the opportunity to integrate into the main stream of the national educational programme with the hope to become useful citizens in the society. Past integration efforts were without much success. Research findings identified inhibiting factors, which included, poverty, suspicion, and the absence of a well-defined conceptual framework and above all lack of adequate funding. However, in spite of these impediments, there is still hope and prospects for the integration drive. Firstly, the few integrated schools presented alternative education that is favourable and responsive to Islamic values and aspirations while serving as instrument for cultural preservation and positive transformation. Furthermore, the community sees the schools both practically and spiritually as their own. These factors among others, are the strong forces and spirit that sustain the drive so far. For successful integration, the study recommends that the Federal Government should declare the Almajiri system, as it is today, a National Disaster and address it with the utmost urgency. Similarly, it is recommended that the government should pursue the poverty reduction programme with vigour to enhance the economic level of parents whose poverty will negatively impact on the child's attainment in school. The State Governments where necessary should embark on the compilation of up-to-date data on Qur'anic Schools and their pupils for effective planning. They should also establish two Model Rehabilitation Schools in each of the States concerned with the intake drawn from Qur'anic schools.