ALMAJIRANCI SYSTEM OF EDUCATION: TRANSFORM OR KILL IT.

An education system that does not offer hope and opportunities for a better life now and in the future, and the freedom to make one’s own choice, must either be transformed or killed. 

The Almajiranci system of education has been in my mind, especially, since the decision of some northern Nigerian governors to evacuate the children and youth under it to their various states, communities and families. One of the reasons stated by some of the governors was to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease among the children and youth considering the way they live and go about their daily business. They risk exposure to the virus and hence the decision to repatriate them to their own states, communities and families where it was believed that they will be better cared for and protected from this highly infectious disease.

The Almajiranci is a system of education which offers children and youth of the Muslim extract access to Islamic education. Persons who are in need of Islamic knowledge attend the Almajiranci schools. They are mostly informally organized with Tijaniyya mallams as teachers to the students. Since the children and youth are mostly emigrants, they live and study within the school premises for as long as they want to.

It was expected that the communities where Almajiranci schools were located take responsibility to care and provide for the children and youth who in turn engage in community services as an appreciation to the communities. But due to little or no care and provision from the communities, the children and youth are asked to go out into the communities to ask alms and food from people and families who may be willing to assist them. This act of begging earned them the name Almajiri. Almajiri is a term used to describe any young person who begs on the streets and do not attend secular schools because they are attending Almajiranci schools.

From all indication, Almajirai are products of the Almajiranci system of education. And they have been a source of concern to society and the government. The Almajiranci schools expose the children and youth that attend them to begging, destitution, trafficking, violence and various degrees of abuses. Despite all of these problems, little or nothing has been done to either improve the Almajiranci system of education or kill it.

Although, there have been several attempts by both the federal government, and state governments in the north, to modernize the system by building schools for the Almajirai, it has been difficult to change the system. We still see lots of children and youth who attended Almajiranci schools, or have dropped out of the schools, on streets asking for alms and exposing themselves to all forms of social vices.

A 2014 report by UNICEF put the number of Almajirai in Nigeria at 9.5 million, or 72 percent of the country’s 13.2 million out-of-school children and youth. It is a great concern and calls for urgent action to address it.

It is obvious that to modernize and transform the Almajiranci system of education we need more than just new school buildings. A complete overhaul of the system is necessary. The government must show strong will and great commitment to either transform the system or kill it.

I believe that the Almajiranci system can be improved upon to serve the children and youth who would like to learn under it without being forced. All concerned persons, advocates of the system and governments (federal, state and local) should come together to think of possible ways to improve it. 

And, if it is beyond transformation, it should be abolished forthwith.

Here are my humble suggestions for the transformation of the Almajiranci system of education in Nigeria: 

1. It should be well structured and provided with effective leadership. It should take the structure of a formal school and system. In this case, I would like to advice that other subjects and courses be offered to the children and youth alongside Islamic studies and Arabic language. 
2. It can be run as an after-school program where children and youth interested in the study of Arabic language and acquisition of Islamic knowledge can attend after attending a secular school. 
3. Children and youth attending Almajiranci schools miles away from their homes and families should be provided with accommodation and basic health care. Catering for their overall well-being is a priority. No child should be allowed or forced to beg for alms for any reasons. 
4. Career and Technical Education programming should be integrated into the Almajiranci system to prepare the children and youth for college, career and civic life.

These few suggestions and many others will transform the Almajiranci system of education to serve the children and youth better and provide them with the opportunities they need to succeed in life and make positive contributions to society.

If we consider these suggestions to be very difficult to implement, then, there is no need to allow this system of education to continue. In its present state, it is bad enough to allow it to remain. It is a threat to our collective peace and socioeconomic development.

It should be transformed or killed! It is TIME to DECIDE!!

In case you have any good suggestions/ideas on how to transform the Almajiranci system of education,  please, leave them as a comment.