National Policy on Almajiri will provide lasting solution to system – FG

The federal government has said developing a National Policy on Almajiri education system will provide lasting solution to the problem of Almajiri street-begging crisis in the country. The Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad stated this on Thursday in Abuja during one-day presentation of Civil Society Organisations position on the Revitalisation of the […]

The federal government has said developing a National Policy on Almajiri education system will provide lasting solution to the problem of Almajiri street-begging crisis in the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad stated this on Thursday in Abuja during one-day presentation of Civil Society Organisations position on the Revitalisation of the Almajiri- Tsangaya System of Education in Nigeria organised by National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children, European Union and Plan International.

This is even as she said as soon as the Policy is ready they will sponsor a bill to support the implementation of the policy.

Prof Ahmed said the policy which is in process is going to provide adequate mechanisms for Almajiri school system in Nigeria and look at issue of welfare, school entry age, distance from the home, boarding facilities, wash facilities, incentive for teachers, parental and community responsibilities as well.

She assured that the commitment of the government in changing the narrative of the Almajiri Education System

They proposed a new robust policy with legal backing from the National Assembly to address Almajiri education.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasised a “bottom-up” policy approach, engaging communities and state governments to ensure sustainable Almajiri education reform.

“We want to ensure that each and every Almajiri, not only benefits from Islamic education, Quranic memorisation, but also has the opportunity to be a functional and effective member of the society,” she said.

While noting that every government, from Obasanjo’s time, had initiatives, but they were not sustainable, when another government comes, it stops, she said with their commitment now, they want to be remembered as those who championed lasting solution to Almajiri education system.

The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children (NCAOOSCE), Dr Muhammad Idris, highlighted severe abuses against Almajiri children, citing cases of blindness, sodomy, and starvation, while condemning systemic neglect and discrimination.

“Guzeiru lost his two eyes in the quest to memorize Quran.

“Abdullahi, a 12-year-old boy was battling with his health last three months in Kano because he was sodomised by his master in his attempt to feed him.

“I met Ibrahim last year around 11 p.m. in Abuja, having been beaten by the rain of that day, crying, he said, ‘I couldn’t eat in the last 24 hours,” he said.

Idris expressed hope for policy changes, urging collective action to integrate Almajiri children into society through education and welfare reforms.

Country Director, PLAN International, Charles Usei, revealed that Plan International was spearheading a revitalised effort to reform Nigeria’s Almajiri education system.

Usie criticised past policies for lacking implementation frameworks and legal backing.

“You can only have so much policies that don’t make sense if you don’t bring it to action. Once there is no policy legislation, the government doesn’t prioritise it,” he said.

Ussei said that PLAN had launched pilot programmes in Sokoto and Adamawa to test models that integrates Quranic education with basic literacy and science.

“We’ve shown this model works but we need policy backing and accurate data.”

He noted that the initiative pushed for accountability, demanding the Almajiri Commission to produce reliable data and secure legislation to ensure sustainability amid disputes over UNESCO/UBEC statistics that have stalled progress for decades.