As KADA EduSummit Ends, Stakeholders Propose N440bn TVET Plan, Integration Of Almajiri System

Stakeholders at the Kaduna International Education Summit, EduPACT 2025, have proposed a bold N440 billion investment plan to transform Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Kaduna State, while also advocating for the integration of the Almajiri education system into formal learning structures.

The three-day summit supported by the UK government through the FCDO PLANE program which concluded on Friday in Kaduna, recommended far-reaching reforms to align school curricula with industry demands, establish vocational hubs, and convert traditional learning centres into engines of economic empowerment.

Presenting the communique, Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Professor Abubakar Sani Sambo, said participants stressed the need to allocate a minimum of 15% of the state’s education budget to TVET, describing it as a critical strategy for reducing youth unemployment and driving inclusive development.

The proposed N440 billion TVET roadmap is expected to hinge on public-private partnerships, the establishment of centres of excellence in key trade areas, and structured apprenticeship programmes aimed at equipping thousands of youths with practical, job-ready skills.

The summit also endorsed a comprehensive reform of the Almajiri system, calling for the inclusion of Almajiri children in vocational training programmes, removal of barriers such as mandatory school uniforms and PTA levies, and the engagement of religious leaders as key advocates for the transformation.

“Almajiri children must no longer be left on the fringes. We have resolved to modernize this system by bridging Qur’anic education with literacy, numeracy, digital skills and vocational training,” the communique stated.

Participants drawn from government agencies, local and international development partners, academia, traditional and community leaders, civil society groups and student bodies, deliberated on what they termed a ‘whole of society approach’ to rebuild Kaduna’s education sector.

The Summit also endorsed the establishment of a Kaduna State Education Reform Council to harmonize the roles of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Teachers’ Service Board (TSB), Ministry of Education and other actors, as well as review outdated education policies.

To tackle overcrowded classrooms, especially in rural communities, the gathering called for accelerated teacher recruitment and periodic skills gap assessments to align competencies with modern pedagogical needs.

Digital learning featured prominently in the resolutions, with commitments to expand smart classrooms, integrate artificial intelligence into teaching and research, and explore alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and biofuels to power rural schools.

Under the proposed digital drive, the summit recommended launching a Kaduna Research Cloud to support higher institutions and ramp up global competitiveness.

The communique equally pushed for strengthening School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), Parent-Teacher Associations and Mothers’ Associations to deepen community ownership and school accountability, while scaling grassroots campaigns to boost enrolment and retention.

Youth inclusion was highlighted as a critical plank of the transformation blueprint, with calls for integrating student voices into school boards and policy planning, alongside enforcing equitable tuition regimes and creating disability-friendly campuses.

Participants further resolved to prioritize the needs of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and out-of-school children, expand early childhood education centres in underserved areas, and shift from fragmented Local Government-level interventions to a statewide approach for consistency and bigger impact.

The Communique however stressed that EduPACT 2025 was not just another policy talk-shop, but a movement to turn dialogue into measurable action. “We reaffirm our commitment to treat education not as a political agenda but as a sacred promise to every child in Kaduna State,” it declared.