Tag: Almajiri

  • How Dr. Wamakko Solve Problems Of Almajiri Integrated Model Schools (AIMS) In Sokoto

    How Dr. Wamakko Solve Problems Of Almajiri Integrated Model Schools (AIMS) In Sokoto

    By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto

    Almajiri system of education is as old as it is. It also remains one of the traditional ways of searching for Qur’anic knowledge by the young male children who leave home or sent out by their parents to the network of Islamic Boarding Schools in cities and villages of northern Nigeria.

    The ancient practice has a long history and cultural base in Islam. It is unfortunate that, the golden side of it has been submerged by social vices and future light blockage (begging).

    Indeed, in the past, products of the Almajiri system commanded high respect in the society for the vastness of their Islamic knowledge, personality recognition and responsibility in the society. All these have either been eroded or reduced as a consequence of civilization and human development.

    The social constructs that made man self-reliant and responsible for not begging.

    Indeed, the effects of street begging on the personalities of Muslims in northern Nigeria is sympathetic as it creates the largest proportion of beggars and promotes idleness in the society.

    The genesis of all these and other vices emanates from children roaming streets to beg for food in the name of searching for knowledge. The acts that have no future life earning plans.

    The young pupils who roams the streets are sometimes coopted into mini jobs at residences, restaurants and other public places. They are also engaged in hawking, load carrying in the markets and barrow pushing. Above all, these children are subjected to what literally amounts to force labour in which the proportion of the benefits go to Mallams (leaders).

    In Nigeria today, ALMAJIRI has been considered as any unprivileged child who begs for assistance of food and other things in order to survive. For them to survive, these children beg from dust to down daily on streets before they retire back to their respective Malams so as to be taught how to recite and memorize the Holy Qur’an and Hadith.

    Similarly, it was reported that, there are about seven million children and teenagers identified as street beggars in the northern part of Nigeria which could be traced to Almajiri system of education. In the report of World Health Organization (WHO) over three percent of these children suffer child abuse and neglect. A situation that worried many northern political and religious leaders.

    Although, series of attempts were previously made by different organizations and individuals, but the result was not felt or recognized.

    As such, the Sokoto state government headed by Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko contained the problems through an intellectual and social perimeters of establishing Almajiri Integrated Model Schools in Sokoto state.

    The social preparation for the establishment of AIMS saw eradication or modernization of Almajiri schooling system that has been perceived as very difficult or impossible project.

    The simple reason being that of parents’ rejection and Malams blockage. Most parents do not value any form of modernization in the process of acquiring Islamic education, talk less of including modern education in the program of their children.

    The conviction change of such parents is not easy as they hold the view of valuelessness and destructiveness of education that is not traditionally Islamic.

    For the Malams, Almajiri pupils are the major source of their income. Infact, the means of their survival. Parents of these pupils bring foodstuffs during harvest, some send different things at their will to the Malams. As they (children) engage in many forms of child abuse and other activities whatever they might have gotten Malams have share either daily or weekly. Consequently, the stoppage of their system was not going to be taken lightly by these Malams.

    To succeed, efforts were made to meet with the officials of the Almajiri Teachers Association of Sokoto State. During the meeting three points were presented clearly to them:-That the government of Wamakko was not aiming at closing or destroying their historic schools, that the efforts was geared to assist them in managing the Almajiri pupils and Almajiri system of education, and that the traditional system of reading Qur’an will be included in the programme in the Almajiri Integrated Model Schools.

    The resolution of the meeting was the total conviction and acceptance of the Almajiri Integrated Model Schools by the association. The association entertained the fear of not knowing what would be happening in the schools. The Ministry requested the association to provide two members of their association for employment as teachers in the schools. They sent names of two teachers who were since employed. The association agreed to instruct their members to send the students in their schools who cannot have houses to get food.

    Intellectual preparation for the establishment of of AIMS is another institution that has been termed as one of the northern child problems. The problem is not of the school types but on the process the children are subjected to. As a recognized basic problem in the society that needs special attention of governments, organizations, associations and individuals, efforts need to be made to dig out the genesis and solutions to the problems. In that process, the government of Sokoto state sponsored a research of problem discovery. In that research, many factors were discovered to be the roots of the problems. The major among them are the very high motivation towards the knowledge acquisition of Al-Qur’an, poverty especially of food security and joblessness in the villages during the dry season.

    The then administration of Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has already addressed the last two problems (joblessness and poverty) through different agencies and ministries (ministry for Social Welfare and Youths Development, Poverty Reduction Department, ministry for Special Duties and Department of Disable among others),etc.

    The first factor was what was being addressed through Ministry for Religious Affairs through the proposed establishment of 23 AIMS in all the 23 local government areas of the state. The of the motivation was to establish schools where Qur’an would be taught in three different forms. The first was the local form of learning Qur’an as obtained in the local schools using slates and other things. The second was the teaching of Qur’an in the modern musabaqa way. The third was the teaching of Qur’an with all the sciences of Tajweed.

    Apart from the teaching of Al-Qur’an in the above forms, other Islamic disciplines were being taught to the students. The programme did nod not stop there as there were other modern courses of English, Arithmetic, General Sciences and Vocational skills that were also being taught.

    As time progressed, the successor to Wamakko,Aminu Waziri Tambuwal intend to establish Technical schools where these less privileged children could learn one aspect of technology or handicrafts.

    The prevailance of corona virus eleven months ago apprehend the effort due to lockdown period that affects both economies and all aspects of development worldwide.

    That is merely saying the deadly corona has affected the activity and is still threatening role, value and development of education.

  • No Parents of Almajiri knockdown in Kaduna – KASTELEA CEO

    No Parents of Almajiri knockdown in Kaduna – KASTELEA CEO

    By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna


    The Corp Marshal and Chief executive officer (CEO) kaduna State Environmental law Enforcement Authority (KASTELEA), Major Garba Yahya Rimi (rtd), said they’re yet to trace parents of an Almajiri who was knockdown in Kaduna state.

    Major Rimi who is also the chairman Task Force on COVID-19 guidelines in Kaduna state also revealed, in interview with our correspondent that the number of students of Shiekh Dahiru Bauchi islamiah school students and street beggars have increased from 140 to 162.He said the task force will engaged the service of specialist that would assist them understand the language of some Almajiris and the foreigners before dispatch them to their various a states according to directives of the government. 

    According to him, the foreigners of islamiah students from Bokinafaso, Niger and Benin republics, would be handed over to the immigration service for proper repatriation after they’re soughed out.

    He expressed worry that “about 5 to 6 days ago, I had a man with an Almajiri who was knock down around byepass, and uptil now nobody could trace the parents. No govt will fold its hands and watch such thing happening in his state.

    Major Rimi stated that “we don’t target individual, “It’s not only sheikh Dahiru Bauchi. “We go by the law. And before we commenced, Kaduna state government, under the leadership of Mall. Nasir el-Rufai, constituted a committee, and a terms of reference was giving to us and we’re going by that terms.”

    And sometimes ago, the 19th northern States Governors and FCT Minister’s representative had a meeting at state house in Kaduna and resolved that Almajiris be taking back to their various states of origin after deliberation, to go to formal or Almajiri schools in their Area, where they can go back to their parents houses when closed from the school, and that’s the law we’re using” he said.
    He also noted that “Also  there’s a Kaduna law 2016 banning street begging or hawking in Kaduna State.

    “So most of what we’re doing is based on those law. But People said we’re targeting sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, that’s not the truth. “Because the first time, we arrested about 22 Almajiris traveling from some states to another part of the country. “And at the same time we moved to the other side and arrested about 140 which we convey to Hajj camp legally allowed by the state government. 

    They’re (islamiah) student, and are more than 160 to162 all together because the number is increasing and their are two of them who could not tell us exactly where they came from.
    “We are trying to get specialist to help us find out, who’ll understands the language they’re speaking because we don’t understand. 

    “The number could keep increasing, any given time because the operation will still continue for three months, and will cut across the 23 local government of the state. “So it’s not only in Kaduna town”, he said.

    On how along they’ll keep the Almajiris at Hajj camp? He said, “We’ll sought them out and dispatch them to their home states soon. “Not all of them are Nigerians. Some are from country’s like Niger republic, Bokinafaso and Benin republic. “And we’re going to handover to immigration to sought them out and know whether they’re are in Nigeria legally or not. “We pick the 140 from the house they call their islamiah, from same place, and whether they have another place, we don’t know. “19th States and Abuja agreed that any beggar without a parent in the state should be arrested and repatriated to his own state, LG or ward as the case maybe. “Any of the destitute like beggars, there’s a law banning them from going to street and if intercepted will be treated based on the same directive of the governors”, he said.

  • WAMAKKO: Establishment Of Almajiri School In Sokoto

    WAMAKKO: Establishment Of Almajiri School In Sokoto

    By Muhammad Ibrahim,Sokoto

    When, Wamakkos’ adiministration in 2007 introduced almajiri school otherwise called Tsangaya system of education,many were alleged but today, only Sokoto was able to have soft landing.

    Other States across the federation today are busy extending or trade words over the transfer al-majiri’s while Sokoto has successfully fine tune the menace and brought them under one umbrella called “Tsangaya school” which today is being controlled by SUBEB.

    Hopefully, after Corona virus pandemic, mostly Northern states would definitely learn from Wammako past adiministration blue print instead allowing them to go about the street like, Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa, Yobe, Wammako the immediate past Governor of Sokoto who initiated the school has today carter for many pupils in Sokoto which over the time create opportunity to several “Alabama’s” to earn teaching profession.

    As at the time of filling this report, several Tsangaya school teachers have earned well, aquired more steps in their education degree’s level.

    I understood that during the period which Wammako introduced the school, most street beggars allegedly arrested were sent to the Tsangaya and this has curtailed street begging to the bearest minimum. Today, with the development of Covid -19 while many states of the federation were thinking of solution to al-majiri’s, Sokoto was able to come up with solution to this effect.
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  • Kebbi receives additional 83 repatriated almajiri

    Kebbi receives additional 83 repatriated almajiri

    Kebbi State Government yesterday said it has received 83 additional Almajiri (Qu’anic education pupils) repatriated from Kano State.

    This was made known in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to Governor Atiku Bagudu on Media, Malam Yahaya Sarki in Birnin Kebbi.

    According to the statement, the children were received by the Chairman of the state’s Task Force on COVID-19, and also Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Jafar Mohammed, and his members on behalf of Bagudu.

    “The children hail from seven local government areas of Birnin Kebbi, Kalgo, Dandi, Argungu, Maiyama, Jega and Yauri, while one of them was a citizen of neighbouring Niger Republic.

    “All the children were handed over to the Chairmen of their respective local governments, while the child from Niger Republic would be taken back to his country through the protocols laid down by the Federal Government,” the statement explained.

    “We laud the Kano State Government for earlier testing and isolating the children at the Isolation Centre in Kano.

    “I am happy all the children had been declared coronavirus disease-free, as they had tested negative to it.

    “They were, therefore, ready to be reunited with their families as well as the general society.

    “Our topmost priority now is the continuation of both their Qur’anic and Western education, but with their own biological parents.

    “We pledge the state government’s commitment to fully protect all the fundamental human rights of the children,” the statement quoted the commissioner as saying.

    It would be recalled that Gov Atiku Bagudu had earlier personally received 61 Almajiri children repatriated to the state by the Kano government on 22 May.

  • Deported Almajiri Children Reunite With Their Families In Kaduna

    Deported Almajiri Children Reunite With Their Families In Kaduna

    The Almajiri children who were recently deported from Kano, Gombe, and the Plateau States have reunited with their families in Kaduna State.

    The children numbering about 210 tested negative to COVID-19 after being quarantined for 14 days.

    Kaduna state government says the children will be returned to school where they will continue their education in their localities.

    Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development Hafsat Baba reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensuring that the children continue with their education.

    He said that since the current Tsangaya system will be abolished, the children will continue with their Qur’anic studies in line with western education.

    The Almajiri is a system of Islamic education practised in northern Nigeria, where children are sent by their parents to live with an Islamic teacher and study Quranic education.

    However, it is alleged that the children are reduced to a life of begging on the streets to survive.

    Kaduna is one of the states with over 90 confirmed cases of COVID-19 pandemic with three deaths recorded.

    Over 30,000 Almajiri children were deported to their respective states, while 689 were received from Kano, Gombe and Plateau States.

    So far, 65 of those deported to Kaduna State tested positive for the virus and are currently undergoing treatment at the state isolation and treatment center.

  • COVID-19 Positive Almajiri Kids Need Care Not Publicity – Ganduje

    COVID-19 Positive Almajiri Kids Need Care Not Publicity – Ganduje

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has called on his counterparts in the north to avoid ‘making noise’ about COVID-19 positive Almajiri kids and rather give them necessary care.

    The governor who was speaking at a media briefing on Sunday said the fact that he is not making noise doesn’t mean all Almajiri brought back to Kano from other northern states are healthy.

    “We agreed at the Northern Governors Forum that all Almajiris moved to their states of origin. That is why we are sending, in good faith and procedures, all Almajiris that are not from Kano state to their respective states of origin.

    “The way we are sending back Almajiris to their states of origin, we are also receiving Almajiris from other states who are Kano indigenes. But the fact that we are not making noise about it does not mean they are all healthy without COVID-19 infections. But we are not making politics out of it because we all believe that what they need most now, is not noise making or publicity. What they need at this critical point in time is caregiving,” he said.

    The Kano State Governor has sent hundreds of Almajirai back to their states of origin with many of them testing positive for COVID-19 when they were tested upon their return to their respective states.

    The move had attracted criticism but Ganduje defended the state’s action, saying it was mutually agreed by northern governors.

    “People should also understand that these children were not infected in the process of transporting them to their respective states. So noise making is not fit as a way forward.

    “All we are doing is simply to comply with the Northern Governors’ Forum decision that all Almajiris in our states should be taken back to their respective states, simple,” Ganduje said.

    Kano State government had earlier commenced the evacuation of Almajiri children to their respective states of origin most of whom have now been tested positive for COVID-19.

    Governor Ganduje at the briefing stressed that he also received Almajiris from other northern states some of who tested positive but he decided not to make noise about it.