The Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation has engaged religious leaders, village and ward heads in Basawa District, Zaria, Kaduna State, in order to seek ways to reform the Almajiri system of education.
The Hausa word ‘’Almajiri’’ is derived from the Arabic word “ál-Muhajirun,” which refers to a person who migrated in search of Islamic knowledge. Colloquially, the term has expanded to refer to any young person who begs on the streets and does not attend secular school.
At a one-day sensitization programme with community leaders aimed at transforming the system of education in Northern Nigeria, the Managing Director of the foundation, Engr Abubakar Umar Gambo, expressed sadness over the way and manner the almajirai were subjected to inhuman treatment, and therefore advocated for a reform of the almajiri system of education. .
Engr Gambo, however, decried the state of some Tsangaya schools where Almajiri pupils conducted their study and expressed concern over their health conditions.
He said, “We decided to engage traditional leaders and religious leaders to advocate for a reform in the Almajiri system such that the children will study with dignity and in a healthy and globally acceptable environment so that the study will be beneficial to them and the society.
“The purpose of the engagement is to collate views to get the best ways to modernize the system and thereafter engage stakeholders at the policy level that will change the conditions and maybe in the near future, we will see improvement in the system.”
