The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), apex northern socio-political
organisation, has declared support for the moves by the federal
government to overhaul the Almajiri system.
On Thursday, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, said the
Federal Government is considering proscribing the Almajiri system of
education in order to tackle insecurity and ensure that no child is
deprived of basic education.
Monguno said Almajiris were becoming a huge problem to the society,
adding that many of them end up becoming “criminals, drug addicts and
willing tools in the hands of those who have very dangerous
intentions”.
In a statement on Saturday, Mohammed Ibrahim, ACF’s spokesperson, said
the forum is in support of the federal government’s standpoint on
Almajiri.
He said people have misplaced the real “Islamic doctrine of learning”
for out-of-school children roaming the streets and begging for alms in
the name of Almajiri.
“There is a misrepresentation of the concept in the Islamic doctrine
of learning. Almajiri means, going to Islamic schools to learn the
reading of the Holy Quran and its teachings for moral economic and
social benefit of the child,” he said.
“We associate ourselves with Buhari’s concern on the need for the
nation to overhaul the Almajiri system of school that will provide
free and compulsory education across the country.
“The children we see begging in the streets are in the real sense not
Almajiris, but children abandoned by their parents. That is why ACF
agrees with President Buhari that it is indeed a crime for parents to
keep their children out of school in this 21st century under any
guise.
”Furthermore, the President’s appeal to States governments to provide
free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of
primary and junior secondary school age could not be more appropriate
as it is constitutional responsibility of governments to provide
education to the citizens as means of empowerment in a competitive
environment.
“ACF, therefore, urges the State governments to heed to President
Buhari’s appeal and appropriate funds needed for improved volume and
quality of education across the country leading to reduction in
inequality among the citizens.”
