The Islamic Forum of Nigeria has called for reform of the ALmajiranci system of Education in Nigeria.
The executive secretary of the forum Professor Salisu Shehu stated this after a roundtable meeting on the Almajiri education system organized by the Islamic forum of Nigeria, National Secretariat Kano State North-West Nigeria.
Salisu Shehu, a Professor of Educational Psychology said the Almajiranci Education System has been in existence in Northern Nigerian Muslim for about a millennium and is an integral part of the history, identity, cultural heritage, and civilization and it cannot just easily be swept away or be abolished.
Part of the resolutions by the Forum include the following
‘’That the traditional method of teaching the Qur’anic /Arabic alphabets in Hausa, Fulfulde, and Kanuri are the original, ingenious and amazing production of the brains of our forefathers in the service of the Glorious Qur’an and simplification of its teaching which eventually led to the invention of Ajami as an indigenous and veritable means of communication, record management and documentation in pre-colonial and even during early colonial times in the areas of administration, court proceedings and economic transactions.
University Education in Nigeria and the dying system
That over time the system had suffered and is still experiencing neglect by the Muslim community and the colonial and post-colonial governments up to the present day. This is the fact that is responsible for the deterioration of the system, especially in terms of the learning environment (infrastructure) and living condition of both the pupils (Almajirai) and their teachers (Alarammomi) both of which (the learning environment and living condition) are in deplorable conditions.
That although throughout the history of the Almajiri education system both the Malamai/Alarammomi and the parents have had genuine intentions, in the recent years, however, the motives/intentions of many of the parents in sending their children are quite questionable as they smack of abdication of parental responsibility.” Said Prof Shehu
The Islamic body said That there is no doubt about the need for intervention into the Almajiranci system to reposition and improve its general conditions in terms of curriculum and pedagogy, learning environment, the living conditions of both the Malams and the Almajirai and attitude and responsibility towards it.
‘’That attempts and efforts at reforming the system have been well over half a century but have not made any breakthrough. Similarly, the attempts and efforts especially in recent years have been too numerous and uncoordinated, yet with little or almost nothing tangible on the ground in terms of results. Apparently, the situation only perpetually keeps on deteriorating and worsening by the day. And that is exactly what led to the accentuation and entrenchment of the obnoxious phenomenon of begging to the extent that those who are ignorant of the history and purpose of the system think that begging was its part and parcel. ‘’
The Forum also harped on the measures taken by the northern state governors as suspicious, full of flaws, and have only succeeded in generating a lot of misgivings and mistrust from the primary stakeholders of the system and the general northern public.
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The meeting further resolved that as custodians of the ALmajiranci system they will ensure that all interventions by, the government or any foreign organizations, donor agencies, and development partners are in tandem with the aspirations stated in the meeting and do not jeopardize the spirit and essential virtue and nature of the system.
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They further called for National Coordination Council to come up with a National Blueprint Action Plan and roadmap which will spell out our vision, mission, and aspirations, short, medium, and long term objectives the intended reform or intervention of Almajiranci across the country.
