From Yakubu Busari ,Jos
1-3, Different faces of the Almajiri child
The convener of The Movement For the Rights of Almajiris, Alh Salis Mohammed has risen in condemnation of the current state of practice of the Islamic system of education for children in many states in Northern Nigeria and called on parents to stop patronizing it, describing it as exploitative and old fashioned.
The digital world of today cannot accommodate such an outmoded system of education or else the youngsters would continue to be “exploited by Islamic extremists and Muslims scholar who later abandon them to streets begging”, he said.
He said emerging laws that ensured that any person who is giving out his child must fulfill certain obligations must be followed otherwise it will amount to child abuse or child trafficking as is currently the case.
He observed that states like Kastina, Kano and have enacted laws guarding the conditions under which parents can give out a child to Muslim scholars and urged other states in the Northern of the country with the prevalence of the almajiri system to follow suit.
Explaining further, he said’ “You cannot give out your child below the age of eleven years to anybody the without proper documentation and registration in line with laid down laws of the Rights of Almajiri, to provide functional boarding facilities and parental contribution for the up keep of the child ”
“Here in Kano, the state has even gone step further to recruit more teachers in their schools and building over 500 schools with facilities for the Almajiri kind of education.
“This is why we are advocating for national laws that will be binding on every violators of the rights of Almajiri child”
He appeal to lawmakers to embrace the new laws in Kano and Katsina and cooperate with governors who forward such laws on almajiri education
Mohammed disclosed that while embarking on sensitization campaign in and around Jos, he noticed that many of the incidences of rising crime and criminality in the society today were traceable to lack of parenting and improper schooling such as offered under the almajiri system.
He emphasizes that the second – phase of the advocacy on the rights of Almajiris, tagged “Actors” is to enlighten parents on the danger of giving out their children to unknown persons to teach.
He said the first phase of the campaign was completed the 2019.
“The second- phase is on how we reform the practice of Almajiri which requires the support of national laws “.
The advocacy, he added, currently involves Muslims stakeholders, the National Human Rights Commission, National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, the National Judicial Commission and the Sharia Court of Appeal
