By Hassan Auwalu Muhammad
The high number of ‘Almajirai’ and out-of-school children in this country poses a significant threat to our future, especially with their increasing presence on the streets of Kano and other parts of the north. Wherever you go, particularly on the roadside, you will often see young boys or girls approaching cars, begging for food. This issue has become rampant, even among adults.
In these trying times, and with the cost of living soaring and the constant threat of kidnapping and missing children, some parents are sending their children to different parts of the country for ‘Makarantun Allo’ to pursue Qur’anic education. However, they often do this without understanding the potential risks to their children’s lives.
While It is not wrong to send your child to school to seek knowledge, but the problem arises when parents do not know their child’s situation at the school. Are they taking care of their daily needs, or do they assume that the teachers and townspeople will look after them? The answer is often no.
Many parents are unaware of the conditions their children face. They believe their children are under the good care of their scholars, fulfilling their educational purpose, which is often not the case. Additionally, some children living with their parents do not attend school because their parents are unaware of the importance of education.
These children in most cases grow up without respect for their parents, who do not take care of them or know their whereabouts. Many people, deliberately or not deliberately are not focused on these issues, or perhaps they believe that if a problem does not affect them directly, it is not their concern. If people, especially in the Northern region where this problem is severe, understood the threat we face, they would take action to resolve it before it worsens.
When President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration created the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, the current government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu continued with the trend by appointing a civil servant to lead the commission. Since then, things have started to improve.
The agency’s efforts which was actually designed to create a supportive environment for the ‘Almajirai’ and their scholars by providing study materials, healthcare facilities, and awareness programs to help them embrace modern methods of acquiring Qur’anic education. One initiative is the creation of MUSABAQA VILLAGE in some parts of the country.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Idris Muhammad Sani, along with dedicated staff like Malam Daha Tijjani and Nura Muhammad, actually deserve commendation for their efforts. They are consulting with ‘Alarammomi’ and experts in Qur’anic teaching, ensuring there’s no discrimination or bias among the scholars involved. And this inclusive approach, if sustained will contribute greatly to bring beneficial reforms to the Almajiri system for everyone’s future.
It is our hope that with the commission’s ongoing efforts, we can expect positive changes in the Almajiri system and out-of-school children’s education soon.
You can contact Hassan via: m.shareef1980@gmail.com
