The almajiri system of education is a scar in Northern Nigeria. Almajiri is an Islamic system of education majorly practiced in northern Nigeria. The word almajiri is an Arabic meaning a person who leaves his abode in search of Islamic knowledge. The knowledge that he/she will serve the Almighty Allah.
It’s impossible for human beings to live without religious studies because it serves as a guiding principle of life, so any society without religion is like a jungle. Almajiri education should be given national attention instead of an outright ban. Some people are advocating its scrapping due its menace to society.
For me, the best way the federal government can end the almajiri street begging is by finding a national solution by modernizing the system, as done by former President Goodluck Jonathan. It is not possible to eliminate the system as this will pose a threat to national security; it will be perceived as a fight against Islam.
The steps Jonathan took were amazing. He built “tsangaya” school for almajiri and employed teachers to teach them and monitor their activities. Unfortunately, most of students fled because of lack of food and other welfare. Government should enact a law compelling anyone who wants to send his child to almajiranci to provide food and clothing.
Therefore, any attempt to ban almajiri system of education will be counter-productive because there are people who will protect it even at the risk of their lives. So, the state and federal governments should reform the almajiri system rather than banning it.
As President Muhammadu Buhari said, state governments are in better position to handle almajiri with the help of the federal government. Almajiri system of education should be treated or included in the universal system of education.
Ahmed Abdul,
Department of Mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri
