The Federal Government has tightened enforcement measures in Almajiri learning centres nationwide, warning that non-compliance with newly established operational standards will attract sanctions, including closure.

Details of the measures are contained in the National Policy on the Enhancement of Almajiri Education in Nigeria, released by the Federal Ministry of Education last month and obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday.

The policy covers operations and management of all Almajiri learning centres, males and females, across the country.

At the centre of the policy is a set of mandatory standards that all learning centres must meet or risk suspension after a probation period of three to six months.

The framework, to be implemented by the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, introduces stricter regulation of the system, long criticised for neglect and abuse.

Under the new rules, all Almajiri centres are required to register with relevant state or local authorities and maintain comprehensive records of learners, including biometric data, to enhance monitoring and accountability.

Operators must also submit periodic reports and allow routine inspections by government agencies.

“Any learning centre that fails to comply with the provisions of this policy shall be given a probation period of three to six months; thereafter, appropriate action shall be taken, such as sanction from operation,” the policy report stated.

It explicitly bans the practice of sending learners to beg on the streets, a long-standing feature of the system.

“Any registered learning centre that sends learners out to beg shall face appropriate action, such as a sanction from the operation,” it added.

In addition, the government has set minimum welfare and health standards.

Learners and facilitators are now required to undergo periodic medical checks at recognised public health facilities, while centres must be linked to nearby healthcare providers and equipped with basic first aid kits.

“New entrants shall have the following basic needs as conditions for enrolment: a minimum of three items of clothing; two pairs of footwear; an eating plate and cutlery; writing materials as applicable or appropriate,” the policy outlined.

Clear age limits have also been introduced, restricting enrolment in day centres to children aged four to 18, while boarding facilities are limited to those between 12 and 18 years.

Adult learners, the policy states, must be taught separately.

To address concerns over poor learning outcomes, the government has mandated a uniform but expanded curriculum.

“Literacy and Numeracy shall be infused into the curriculum of the Almajiri teaching and learning. Relevant digital skills shall be included in the training of the facilitators and learners.”

Infrastructure requirements have also been standardised.

“At least one toilet for a population of not more than 25 Almajiri/Almajira learners. Adequate water supply to the Learning Centre. Learning centre shall be adequately ventilated,” it added.

The policy also introduces gender-sensitive provisions, mandating separate learning spaces for male and female learners.

“There shall be a separate learning space for male and female learners,” it stated, adding that operational guidelines now require centres to adhere to approved academic calendars and open their operations to oversight.

“Learning centres shall open doors for supervision and monitoring by the appropriate LGA, state/FCT or federal authority as may be required.”

Officials said failure to comply with any of these provisions would trigger enforcement actions, stressing that the sanctions regime is designed to compel adherence and eliminate exploitative practices.

The government noted that the reforms build on earlier interventions by the National Commission for Nomadic Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission, but acknowledged that gaps in regulation and implementation have allowed the system’s challenges to persist.

It added that while the policy does not seek to take over Almajiri learning centres, strict enforcement of the new standards is necessary to safeguard learners, improve education quality and address the growing number of out-of-school children linked to the system.

The Almajiri system, which dates back several centuries in northern Nigeria, traditionally involves young boys leaving their homes to study the Quran under the guidance of a Mallam (teacher).

Learners often live with their Mallam or in small communal hostels, relying on alms or contributions from the community for food and basic needs.

Over time, the system has faced widespread criticism for exposing children to poverty, neglect, street begging, and exclusion from formal education.

Previous attempts to regulate Almajiri centres have met with limited success due to inconsistent oversight, inadequate funding, and, in some areas, cultural and religious resistance. Advocates for reform argue that formalising the system, integrating modern education, and enforcing welfare standards are essential to protect vulnerable children and reduce the number of out-of-school youths across northern Nigeria.

No fewer than 10,000 teachers across Nigeria have registered on the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria digital portal for the May 14–16, 2026, Batch A Professional Qualifying Examination.

The Registrar and Chief Executive of TRCN, Dr Ronke Soyombo, told The PUNCH on Tuesday that the development reflected growing acceptance of the platform and its capacity to handle nationwide registration and licensing processes.

The TRCN digital portal was launched in September 2025 with the support of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa.

It represents a major milestone in the modernisation of teacher registration, licensing, and certification processes in Nigeria.

Soyombo explained that although some users experienced difficulties at the early stage of the portal’s rollout, the issues were mainly due to high traffic and increased demand, as well as system upgrades and users adjusting from manual to digital processes.

The registrar said, “The initial challenges experienced were largely attributable to high user traffic and increased demand following nationwide rollout; ongoing system upgrades aimed at enhancing performance and security, which were duly communicated to users across all teacher platforms; and user adaptation issues associated with transitioning from manual to digital processes on the part of users.”

The TRCN boss maintained that the platform now operates smoothly and efficiently, adding that the volume of successful registrations confirms its effectiveness.

“The TRCN digital registration portal is running smoothly and has continued to serve teachers nationwide without interruption,” she said.

Soyombo added, “Over 10,000 teachers successfully registered for the May 14–16, 2026, Batch A Professional Qualifying Examination.”

She emphasised that the registration record served as proof that the system is functional and reliable.

“This verifiable record shows clearly that the system is functional and effective,” she added.

Soyombo further clarified that the initial challenges were part of a normal adjustment process and not a sign of failure of the digital initiative.

According to her, the portal remained the only approved and transparent channel for teacher registration, licensing and certification in Nigeria.

She also commended teachers for their patience and cooperation, assuring that efforts are ongoing to further strengthen and improve the digital platform.

The council further clarified that it had never authorised any bank to sell registration forms since its inception.

“Registration is exclusively conducted through the official TRCN portal, ensuring transparency and eliminating fraudulent practices,” she explained.

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The Federal Government has approved N2bn each as take-off grants for the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic in Abuja and the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe in Epe, Lagos State, as part of efforts to support their early operations.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during the inauguration of key officials appointed to lead the two institutions, according to Arise News.

Among those inaugurated were Prof. Nosiru Onibon, who will serve as the pioneer Rector of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Federal Polytechnic, Abuja; Prof. Adeola Oshikoya, appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe; and Dr Angela Ajala, who assumed office as Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education.

Presenting the letters of appointment in Abuja, Alausa said the newly created institutions were part of the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to higher education and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity in science, technology and innovation.

“Every child in this country deserves access to the highest quality education comparable to global standards. The appointees were carefully selected based on their record of service and achievements across Nigeria’s educational institutions.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. You have been chosen from millions of Nigerians to serve your country, and this recognition extends to your families as well,” the minister said.

He noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was focused on building a stronger education system capable of producing skilled manpower needed for national development.

According to the minister, the N2bn take-off grants approved for each institution are meant to help the schools establish basic administrative and academic structures as they commence operations.

Alausa urged the newly appointed officials to provide strong leadership that would shape the identity and long-term development of the institutions.

He said the Federal University of Science and Technology in Epe and the polytechnic in Abuja were strategically located to harness the economic potential and human resources available in the two regions.

The minister added that the institutions are expected to focus on areas such as technological innovation, renewable energy, climate change response, disaster risk management and other research fields relevant to national development.

He also congratulated Ajala on her appointment as NCCE Executive Secretary, stressing the importance of teacher education to the development of the country’s education system.

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