THE PARADOX OF EDUCATIONAL DIARCHY: QUR’ANIC SCHOOLS AND THE DELIVERY OF BASIC EDUCATION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examines the issue of dualism or diarchy in the educational structure of Northern Nigeria and how various Nigerian governments have grappled with the problem of forging a workable synthesis between Qur’anic school system and western education without much success. The paper asserts that in recent times, the deplorable conditions of these schools, cases of child abuse/neglect associated with them and the need to expand access to education for all have forced a second look at the future of Qur’anic schools. It examines the attempts to integrate Qur’anic school into the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme and raises some conceptual questions on the feasibility and likely consequences of this arrangement.