Katsina govt to launch literacy classes for repentant bandits
The Katsina State Agency for Mass Education has unveiled plans to begin literacy classes for repentant bandits as part of efforts to reintegrate them into society.
According to the state government, the initiative follows recent peace agreements reached in several local government areas previously plagued by banditry.
The Nation recalls that the bandits voluntarily surrendered their arms during the peace talks in a bid to restore calm to the region.
Speaking to journalists in Katsina, the Executive Director of the agency, Bilkisu Muhammad Kakai, said the state is prepared to deploy facilitators to conduct the literacy classes.
She added that the programme will offer both Islamic and Western education to help reshape the behaviour and lifestyles of the former bandits.
She said, ”We will liaise with local government chairmen to open the classes in phases. The core subjects will focus on Islamic and Western education,”
Reviewing the performance of the agency in the last six months, Kakai disclosed that 68 new adult education classes had been established within the vicinities of district heads across the state.
She also revealed that a Basic Post-Literacy class had been opened at the Katsina Correctional Centre to support inmates who wish to pursue higher education.
The Basic Post-Literacy class,she further stated is designed to assist inmates to progress academically and, eventually, enroll in university for a degree certificate
She also disclosed that she had toured all local government areas in the state to inspect adult education classes and women centres to assess their conditions.
She commended Governor Dikko Umar Radda for his support and disclosed that financial provisions had been made in this year’s budget to address some of the challenges facing the centres.
The director, however, appealed to members of the National Assembly from the state to collaborate with the agency to establish more adult literacy and women centres across their constituencies.
She said, ”The National Assembly members should dedicate a percentage of their constituency allowances to support the running of adult education classes in their areas in order to wipe out illiteracy and poverty in their area”
