The issue of #Almajiranci education system in Nigeria has many historical tensions around it from both sides of the divide, that is, those in support of it or those against the system. On a personal level, there are three main issues that I have come to understand about the issue are:
- #Almajiranci is a system of delivering education, albeit Islamic education.
- Many people muddle up theknowledge of education philosophies and methodologieswith religious practice and beliefs.
- There is a lack of understanding, knowledge and experience of alternative education provision and practice within the Nigerian mainstream education system.
Personally, I do not have experience of the #Almajiranci system (Almajiri) but what I do understand about it is that it has serious socioeconomic issues around it in the present-day Nigeria, and historically it is a methodology of providing Islamic education to male Muslim children and young adults.
I have avoided writing about the system in the past based on my little knowledge of how the system functions. However, when the opportunity arose for me to learn from an expert – Dr Hadiza Kere – on the system, I accepted to seize it.
For an introduction into the subject, you can check these links:
- THE ALMAJIRI SYSTEM AND VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: Finding the Nexus by Oge Samuel Okonkwo
- Why I am doing what I am doing. by Dr Hadiza Kere
- The Almajiri System of Education in Nigeria Today
by Professor Idris A. AbdulQadir - The Almajiri (Itinerant Qur’anic School Pupils) constitute the largest group of out-of- school children in Nigeria.
From the Twitter chat on ‘#Almajiranci in Nigeria: Issues and Recommendations’, these are the ten, sorry – eleven, key points I took away:
#Almajiranci is a system of education and socialisation:
A1. It’s more a system of education and socialisation than anything really. Ware observes that QS have played a foundational role in building Muslim societies for centuries #StudiEdAfrica
— Hadiza Kere Abdulrahman Ph.D (@dj_kere) May 12, 2018
Major stakeholders in the system are:
- Parents:
The pain here is that parents take their wards to the malamai with an intial token and that is all. (Escape route for parenthood).After this the boy is left to his fate ,health wise, feeding and clothing. With no alernative he begins to beg.Spend years "learning" Pity.
— Bashir Betara (@BashirBetara1) May 12, 2018
- The religious scholars, Malamai:
We are faced with lot of realities that people face them up, or run away from it.
In regulating the Almajiri system government Agencies should bring together all Islamic scholars in the area to train them on how to keep record of their pupils.#NotAnotherNigerian #StudiEDAfrica— Abubakar .s. mu'azu (@comradeASMUAZU) May 12, 2018
- Communities:
Yes we still have emirs. They could also form a body. Muslims are still enjoined to give zakat, it could go towards ameliorating poverty -fard kifaya (community obligation)
— Hadiza Kere Abdulrahman Ph.D (@dj_kere) May 12, 2018
- The students:
Former #Almajirai can also be helped to bridge learning gaps and the teachers amongst them upskilled to become better trainers. Back to what ‘bookending’ looks like, it means that boys attend WS at times when they would be on the streets. Because Govt takes care of feeding
— Hadiza Kere Abdulrahman Ph.D (@dj_kere) May 12, 2018
- Government:
I think if government will provide access to quality Health care ,Education, water and power to our rural communities ,a lot of this young Almajiri pupils that were been brought to cities will stay at the village to support themselves .#NotAnotherNigerian #StudiEDAfrica
— Abubakar .s. mu'azu (@comradeASMUAZU) May 12, 2018
There are underlying social issues that should be addressed:
What about addressing some of the root causes? Could Poverty and Ignnorance among some parents be a factor? Family planning and reproductive rights?
Access to economic buffers/govt funding/infrastructure so parents are gainfully employed/engaged in trsde/agric/businesses?
— Juliet 'Kego (@julietkego) May 12, 2018
Legislation is needed to regulate the system:
Well drasic measures have to be taken and by legislation to make it illegal to subject children to these internal slavery in the name of Islamic education. Many Islamiyya schools have churned out well informed Islamic scholars and equally western educated painlessly.
— Bashir Betara (@BashirBetara1) May 12, 2018
Security is an issue:
Our legislative arm of government need to enact laws that will regulate the activities of almajiri school system.
A typical almajiri school in the north can not present the comprehensive list of it pupils which is also treat to security.#NotAnotherNigerian #StudiEDAfrica— Abubakar .s. mu'azu (@comradeASMUAZU) May 12, 2018
Advocacy is important:
Educating the masses must include using local languages… Radio advocacy will go a long way and so will working with foot advocates who can go into nooks + get buy in from community leaders. Often, community leaders prefer to keep their subjects tamed via ignorance. #almajiranci
— Dr. Anne 'Muyiwa (@AnneMuyiwa) May 13, 2018
The Nigerian education system needs a system of integrating Qur’anic Schooling into its mainstream education system:
It is also time to think past the stark binary of modern secular schools as solutions and Qur’anic schooling as problematic and incompatible with the modern Nigerian state #almajiranci #StudiEDAfrica
— Hadiza Kere Abdulrahman Ph.D (@dj_kere) May 12, 2018
Reforming the system is key:
We have to come up with holistic approach to almajiri related issues ,banning it can not bring an end to the problem but looking at their demands to act on them and contribute on positively toward achieving such.#NotAnotherNigerian #StudiEDAfrica #FellowOfTheWeek
— Abubakar .s. mu'azu (@comradeASMUAZU) May 12, 2018
The list is inexhaustible, but I have picked the ten (eleven) points above based on their recurring themes during the discussion. I have also tried to make the voices as diverse as possible.
Please let me know other point/s you think I should have added by leaving commenting in the comment section below.
Thanks for taking out of your precious time to read my article/s!
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