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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Boko Haram prevents 9,000 students from graduating across Nigeria |
| 2014-01-21 |
| [PREMIUMTIMESNG] Over 9,000 Arabic students have been unable to graduate from various Nigerian institutions due to the Boko Haram ... not to be confused with Procol Harum, Harum Scarum, possibly to be confused with Helter Skelter. The Nigerian version of al-Qaeda and the Taliban rolled together and flavored with a smigeon of distinctly Subsaharan ignorance and brutality... insurgency that has caused numerous deaths and loss of property in Borno State. This was made known by Mohammed Al-Bulaturee, the Chairman of the Governing Council of Nigeria Arabic Village, NAV. "Most of the 9000 students that have finished their academic programmes but could not get their certificates issued is because they were unable to do the acculturation programme at the Arabic Village. "This implies that about 9000 trained teachers who are supposed to be in our primary and secondary schools are not there; thereby making Islamic studies and Arabic lessons in such schools to suffer," he said. In the past two years, due to the heightened Boko Haram insurgency around the NAV, the Arabic students have been unable to attend the mandatory acculturation programme prescribed for students of colleges of education studying Arabic in Nigerian institutions. "It is part of an academic pre-requisite for all students of Arabic languages in any higher institution of learning to attend a mandatory acculturation exercise at the Arabic village, Ngala; for one year in the case of university undergraduates, and a semester for students of colleges of education, before they are awarded their desired certificate", Mr. Al-Bulaturee explained. Just like the Nigerian French Village in Badagry established by the Federal Government in 1992 for students of French, the NAV is the only school offering the acculturation programme for students of Arabic in Nigeria's tertiary institutions. It is located in Ngala, a part of Nigeria where Arabic is predominantly spoken. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES, the new Chairman of the Governing Board of the school, Mr. Al-Bulaturee, said insecurity has been the major challenge of the institution. Mr. Al-Bulaturee disclosed that he recently led the members of the Governing Council of NAV to the Federal Ministry of Education where the institution's security challenges were discussed. "The Minister of Education, Honorable Nyesom Wike, had most gladly promised to swiftly provide perimeter fence and electricity for the school. And most importantly, he has shown personal commitment to resolving the challenges confronting us. "And to God be the glory, there is a lot of improvement this year. We are trying to encourage thae students to come so that they would pass through the programme and get their certificates", said the Governing Council chairman. "We have also visited the Minister of Finance, Dr. Lawan Ngama; the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai El-Kanemi; and Governor Kashim Shettima. All of them have shown interest towards assisting the school to deliver its mandate," he said. Established in 1992, the institution, which is based in Gamboru-Ngala, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon, is meant to serve as a professional training ground for students of Arabic, Islamic studies and allied programmes in Nigeria's higher institutions. |
| Posted by:Fred |