By Abubakar Muhammad (9NEWS NIGERIA, NORTHEAST)
The federal government of Nigeria has disclosed how it intends to address the lingering issue and challenges of Almajiri system of education in the country.
Dr. Muhammad Sani Idris, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Almajiri and Out0of-School Children Education (NCAOSCE) made the disclosure on Tuesday in Maiduguri, during the 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum, a forum hosted by Yobe State Government.
He said that the government is aware of the dangers posed by neglecting the Almajiri education as well as its future consequences.
During the session, Dr. Sani explained how government intends to tackle the issues such as begging and the abuse and exploitation of the Almajiri children among other things.
The session ‘’Addressing Almajiri Challenges as a Panacea to Peace and Stability in the Lake Chad Basin Region,’’ was attended by audience from member states as well as countries in the Lake Chad area.
Muhammadu Indimi International Conference Centre, University of Maiduguri, venue of the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum
As part of the preconference events, the session was organized by the NCAOSCE to highlight, discuss diverse past experiences, solutions, recommendations and share notes with other stakeholders on relevant issues associated with the Almajiri system in the region.
While leading the session, Dr. Sani said that the challenges caused by the Almajiri system is of regional concern and needs to be addressed on that level to ensure effective and sustainable solution.
He said that three out of every five Amajiris in Nigeria are from foreign countries within the Lake Chad region.
Also, in Maiduguri, he said about four out of five Almajiris are not from Borno State but other states across Nigeria.
On exploitation of Almajiri child and other Out-of-School Children, Dr. Sani explained that they constitute a recruiting force for terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements that threatened the security of Nigerians.
He added that the number of Almajiris and baggers have increased in the country due to insurgent activities, noting that about 50,000 children were orphaned by the terrorists, adding to the menace.
He also highlighted other key challenges affecting Almajiri system of education in Nigeria, a trend he said is similar in other countries in the Lake Chad Basin.
Dr. Idris noted that there is no reliable data or literature on the Almajiri system and its challenges.
He explained that lack of means of sustenance and livelihood after their studies, also undermines Almajiri students, adding that lack of funding from governments at all levels has contributed to that effect.
Other challenge he said is the deliberate refusal to recognize the Amajiri system of learning and develop it by the colonial masters before independence, noting that the trend also continued after independent.
He said that the colonial masters also redefined the term illiterate to include those studying in informal systems of learning like the Almajiri education, making them unemployable in government and other labor markets.
According to Dr. Sani, NCAOSC has develop strategies on how to tackle some of the challenges, including inadequate practices in the former system, particularly their curriculum.
He said that the Almajiri system is a breeding ground for misconceptions about real and accurate teachings of Islam as the students are usually educated on strict Qur’anic memorization without other relevant studies like Arabic language to help them understand what they are memorizing; hence the need to introduce Arabic and other studies in their curriculum.
Another important measure he said is advocacy, directly engaging with all stakeholders involved, including the Malams (teachers), parents or guardians and community leaders.
He said the engagement will be based on Islamic principles like taking responsibilities of children welfare and upbringing among other things, rather than as a strictly government policy.
This campaign, he said, will also include community members in all senatorial districts in the country where the people will be directly engaged in sustaining the program.
On their productivity and means of livelihood, Dr. Sani said that the new curriculum would prepare them for admission into higher institutions of learning across the world.
Explaining further, Dr. Sani, also a former commissioner of Basic Education in Yobe State Government, said that their commission is establishing a training school for the Alamajiri graduates, where they would be trained for nine months on Arabic language and skills acquisition to enable them acquire a means of livelihood, noting that, if successful, the initiative would be replicated in other states across the country.
Other measures, he said, includes funding of their teachers and a program for adoption of an Almajiri child by interested individuals and others things.
