E ISSN: 2583-049X
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International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Studies

Volume 2, Issue 6, 2022

Almajiri, the role of Parents and the Society



Author(s): Martin C Onukwuba, Emmanuella U Dominic

Abstract:

This research titled “Almajiri, the role of Parents and the Society," has attempted to ascertain and identify some of the problems and suggest some potential solutions for Almajiri as an Islamic institution in Nigeria. During the course of this investigation, we discovered that this Almajiri School is divided into two categories: structured and unstructured practice. The building contains Islamiyya, the Islamic day or boarding school. The unstructured language is the Makarrata allo. The structured program is more organized than the unstructured program, which allows children to beg for food on the streets.

Through this research, the researcher was able to trace the origin of Almajiri in Bwari to between 2006 and 2008. The researcher was also able to link the problems of the Almajiri to the arrival of colonial rulers and the spread of western education. Prior to colonization, the system was better organized because the Sultan of Sokoto funded it with zakat (community charity). This research identifies five major problems with Almajiri in Nigeria: Firstly, one of the problems of Almajiri is the aspect of street begging, moving from one place to another or from one house to another in search of their daily bread. Instead of devoting time to their studies, Secondly, violence and insecurity, the practice of moving about in search of food, has exposed these children to a number of risks and abuses. This abuse makes the children extremely vulnerable, most especially to do-or-die politicians, desperate business people, and clerics preaching religious intolerance who promise better life opportunities.

Thirdly, accommodation; the Almajiri system of education lacks facilities such as well-ventilated hostels, beds, or even toilets. They sleep in an overcrowded and congested place. Most of the time, they sleep in the mosque if the school is close to the mosque or in an uncompleted building.Fourthly, feeding, Most Almajiri did not know where their next meal was coming from in a day. One major aspect of these Almajiri problems is their eating habits. They consume all kinds of food, fresh or stale, which makes them very vulnerable to a number of illnesses and diseases.Finally, lack of parental care and personal hygiene. The problem the Almajiri face as soon as they get to Qur’anic school is the deprivation of parental care. They have been denied that motherly love and care. Aside from this, whenever they are sick, no one is to take care of them. The condition these Almajiri are living in exposes them to many communicable diseases.

The research also identified possible challenges in the Almajiri practice; challenges to the individual, Islam and the community. For example, these children lack many social amenities; they lack parental care; they go through a lot of psychological traumas; abuse and hunger; and Islam, due to the division among them, has allowed the problem to linger. This system also poses challenges to the community. The present government, the parents, and the community are indifferent towards tackling the problems associated with the Almajiri system of education.


Keywords: Almajiri Practice, Social Amenities, Challenges, Psychological and Government

Pages: 229-235

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