Enrol your child in almajiri system and go to jail, Governor El-Rufai warns parents

The Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i has warned parents against enrolling their children into the Almajiri education system or stand the risk of prosecution and sentence to two years jail.

Penpushing reports that, the Governor gave the caution note on Monday during his visit to some 200 Almajiri children repatriated from Nasarawa State who were currently undergoing rehabilitation and optical screening at Government College, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna.

The frankly speaking Governor in addition declared that any Islamic cleric who enrols any child into the Almajiri system would also be prosecuted and jailed as well as fined N100,000 or N200,000 per child.

Penpushing further reports that, he expressed satisfaction with the ongoing transformation of the Almajiri pupils from hopelessness to hope and confidence, adding that  the state has a responsibility to do whatever it can to give them hope and a better future.

“We will, therefore, continue to take delivery of every Almajiri pupil indigenous to Kaduna state for rehabilitation, treatment and enrolment into formal school nearest to where their parents live. We will continue to do this until we clear Kaduna state of the menace of Almajiri system, which is not education but the abuse of the privilege and future of a child.

“Our ultimate goal is for them to acquire formal education without depriving them of the opportunity to acquire Quranic education. They will continue their Quranic education but under the care of their parents and not under someone who does not know them or paid to look after them.”

Penpushing also reports that, El-Rufai admitted that all the Almajiri pupils repatriated from other states of the country were indigenes of the state, emphasisng that his administration would give them all the opportunity they deserved to grow and develop.

The Governor assured that the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD), along with UNICEF would closely monitor them and ensure that no child would leave his locality until he finished primary and junior secondary school.

Penpushing reports that, he said every child in the state must get 12-year free and compulsory primary and secondary school education, stressing that, “those that cannot proceed to senior secondary school will have the opportunity to go to vocational school, also free. As such, no parent has any excuse for his child not to go to school,”.

The Governor expressed appreciation to Ministry of Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD), and other state agencies for the commitment and passion for the welfare of the children.

Penpushing further reports that, El-Rufai also thanked AMA foundation and other NGOs and civil societies for supporting the government to provide the Almajiri pupils with the needed medical care, food, and clothing, among others, and with particular appreciation to UNICEF for supporting the state government in ensuring that all the repatriated children were well documented.

The Governor pointed out that the care and support provided had restored the sense of dignity of the children, while the Commissioner for Health, Hafsat Baba, Commissioner, disclosed that the state had so far received more than 900 Almajiri pupils from Kano, Bauchi, Plateau and Nasarawa states.

Penpushing reports that, Baba explained that no fewer than 500 of them were rehabilitated, and treated those who tested positive for coronavirus and reunited with their families, adding that  some 400 others were still undergoing rehabilitation and would soon be reunited with their families.

The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna,Zakari Adam in his remarks commended Kaduna state government for the efforts to ensure that all children go to school as against begging in the streets.

Penpushing also reports that, he reiterated UNICEF’s continued support to the state in all children-related issues such as child protection, education, and health among other areas, for uninterrupted growth and development of every child.

The UNICEF boss  noted  the need for all stakeholders, the government, civil society, parents, communities, religious and traditional leaders and the media to work together in ensuring that children acquired quality education.

Meanwhile, Almajiri are children enrolled to be taught Islamic knowledge under Islamic Clerics, but who loiter on the streets with bowls begging for alms and food.