ALMAJIRI

By Dauda Musa

is a system of Islamic education practiced in northern
Nigeria. Almajiri derives from an Arabic word, rendered "al-Muhajirun" in English transliteration, meaning a person who leaves his home in search of Islamic knowledge.

PRE COLONIAL ERA

This system of education started in Nigeria in a town named Kanem-Borno which had a majority of its rulers widely involved in Quranic literacy. More than 700 years later, the Sokoto caliphate was founded by a revolution based on the teachings of the Qur'an. Sokoto caliphate and Borno caliphate started running the Almajiri system together. During this precolonial era, students used to stay with their parents for proper moral upbringing. All the schools available then were in a close proximity with the immediate environment of the students. Inspectors were introduced to go round the school and after inspection they report to the emir of the province all the matters regarding the affairs of the school. The schools were funded by the community, parents, zakkah, sadaqqah and sometimes through the farm output of the students.

COLONIAL ERA

The year 1904 brought a new twist to the almajiri system of education, as the British invaded the northern part of Nigeria. During the invasion most Emirs were killed and others were disposed. The remaining emirs lost controls of their territories, this resulted also in the lost of fundamental control of the almajiri. Boko was introduced, boko meaning western education. The British abolished the state funding of almajiri schools. With no support from the community, Emirs and government, the system collapsed. The teachers and students had no financial support, so, they turned to alms begging and menial jobs for survival.

PRESENT DAY

A report by the National Council for the Welfare of the Destitute (NCWD) approximated the number of current almajiri to 7 million.

The system now lacks things like good teachers and basic amenities like proper clothing and shelter. Most of the almajiri do not graduate and are left with the option to do menial jobs.
(Wikipedia)

Taking the Above in to Account, The Almajiri system of  Education Was Once the Basic System of education in northern Nigeria with proper funding and over sighting by the authorities.

Today! What we see is different  from what is known as the Almajiri of yesterday. The System is not neglected  by the authorities but also by the communities.

Outlined blelow  is the child rights and protection act of the Nigerian government.

CHILD’S RIGHT ACT

Best Interest of a Child to be of Paramount Consideration in all Actions.

Rights of a Child
.Application of Chapter IV of 1999 Constitution, etc.
.Right to survival and development.
.Right to name.
.Freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
.Right to private and family life.
. Right to freedom of movement.
.Right to freedom from discrimination.
. Right to dignity of the child.
.Right to leisure, recreation and cultural activities.
. Right to health and health services.
.Right to parental care, protection and maintenance.
. Right of a child to free, compulsory and universal primary education, etc.
. Right of a child in need of special protection measure.
. Right of the unborn child to protection against harm, etc.
. Contractual rights of a child.
.Responsibilities of a child and parent.
.Parent, etc. to provide guidance with respect to child’s responsibilities.

Protection of the Rights of a Child

.Prohibition of child marriage.
.Prohibition of child betrothal.
.Punishment for child marriage and betrothal.
. Tattoos and skin marks.
.Exposure to use, production and trafficking of narcotic drugs, etc.
Use of Children in Other Criminal Activities
.Use of children in other criminal activities.
.Abduction, removal and transfer from lawful custody.
Child Labour
.Prohibition of exploitative labour.
.Application of Labour Act.
Buying, Selling, etc., for the Purpose of Begging and Prostitution, etc.
.Prohibition of buying, selling, hiring or otherwise dealing in children for the purpose of hawking
or begging for alms or prostitution, etc.
Unlawful Sexual Intercourse, etc.
.Unlawful sexual intercourse with a child, etc.
Other Forms of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
.Forms of sexual abuse and exploitation.
Other Forms of Exploitation
.Other forms of exploitation.
Recruitment into the Armed Forces

UNICEF/2017/Gilbertson

The Challenge

Abuse in all its forms are a daily reality for many Nigerian children and only a fraction ever receive help. Six out of every 10 children experience some form of violence – one in four girls and 10 per cent of boys have been victims of sexual violence. Of the children who reported violence, fewer than five out of a 100 received any form of support. The drivers of violence against children (VAC) are rooted in social norms, including around the use of violent discipline, violence against women and community beliefs about witchcraft, all of which increase children

Only 30 per cent of children under five years were registered at birth. Besides being a ‘first right’ of any child, improved birth registration is critical for national planning and governance functions, and serves as a foundation for achieving progress in wider child protection areas and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.

Solution

UNICEF’s child protection programme aims to provide preventive and response interventions for children who are victims of, or at risk from vioystems.

The programme works across multiple levels and sectors, to generate and analyse evidence for legal reform and increased public financing for children as well as design quality age and gender-specific services. In humanitarian contexts, the programme works with key state ministries and other partners, to ensure that identified children facing protection risks receive integrated case management and referral to specialized services. The programme works at federal, national and focus States of Cross Rivers, Gombe, Lagos, Plateau and Adamawa, Borno and Yobe to implement the priority interventions including.

UNASKED UNANSWERED

The Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of president muhammad Buhari has introduce amd implement the Home grown School feeding program(NHGSP )as part of it social investment program ,targeted at feeding millions of children's in Nigeria's primary schools in all parts of the country.
However, the Government and other stakeholders in the  have forget to include the almajiris despite the fact that the almajiris are on every street in every corner of northern Nigeria begging for what to eat.

The
Clarion Call

The Almajiri system provide a pool for recruitment in to the various extremist sect, insurgence, banditry and other deadly and criminal organizations. Government and  other  Stakeholders should either monitor and control affairs of the almajiri system or banished it . As stated in one of facebook posts of The Community Organization "Almajiri is also Child.


To be continued.......