Solution To Almajiri System of Education in Nigeria

By Abdullahi Shafi'u Tukur
U14MM2054

The issue  of Almajiri system has been one of the major topics of concern in this 21st century which consequently lead to many opinionated articles speaking for and mostly against  the system. Historically, Almajiri is derived from the Arabic word “Almuhajirun”, which means an emigrant. It usually refers to person

who migrates from his home town  to another place in search of Islamic knowledge from a popular Islamic scholar. It originated from the time when companions of the Holy Prophet of Islam migrated from Mecca to Madina.

In northern Nigeria,The history of Almijiri can be traced back to the time of pre-colonial era, when the Kanem-Borno Empire, one of the oldest ruling empires in Africa, extending from the frontiers of Northern Nigeria introduced the system. It was extended to other Northern states such as Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna and many other Hausa dominated states. However, the knowledge was latter passed across the Chadian region up to the borders of Libya and many other west African states. It was established as an organized and structured system of education for learning Islamic principles, values, jurisprudence and theology. It was a replica of Islamic learning centres in many Muslim countries suchas the madrasah in Pakistan, Malaysia, Egypt and Indonesia.

At its Initial stage, the system of Almajiri was not too bad like now. Furthermore, most of the states the  almajiris lived as of then, they (the almajiris) served as farmers of groundnuts, cotton and many other farm products. In the former Sokoto empire, they were the leather tanners, shoes and bags makers. They formed majorly traders in Kano state. In Zaria they were the weavers and tailors. They contributed then to the nation's economy. According to professor Fafunwa,  there were 6,000 Almajiri schools in northern Nigeria at that time.

Ironically,the  Almajiris we knew yesterday are quite different from the ones we see today, because now Almajiris are no longer hard workers or self reliant, they absolutely depend on the society for their  survival, the only resort they take as the means of feeding  themselves is through begging and other criminal and illegal ways that are totally banned and forbidden in Islam.

The system of Almijari today has been totally bastardized to the extent that  Almajiris today live in an unhiegenic  environment where a room of two or three people accommodates more than twenty sleeping in it. With the absence of cross ventilation, communicable diseases are easily and simply transmitted among themselves.

Compare to it's early stage, The way they are learning today is totally unprofessional and not well structured, which make  them spend many years without memorizing the complete Qur'an.  Instead of carrying out their primary  responsibilities, They are totally exploited by Mallams, who selfishly expose them to farming without any incentive in return.


   However, since all these Almajiri schools are established primarily to teach people about Islamic values, principles and jurisprudence,  there is need for the government to provide strict rules and regulation that will guide the system. Anybody sending his child to the  school must equally provide him with food, shelter and must be visited constantly. There is also need for government to include and subsidize Islamic system of education in Islamic states within its curriculum. By doing that, people will have no reason of sending their children to Tsangaya school since government subsidizes the learning process.  If Almajiri system is to be maintained, then there is need for Governmen to build  schools that all Almijiris could be accommodated, which will consequently eliminate  the begging on our streets.

Finally, parents marketers and other Islamic organisations should provide the necessary incentives that can help them to learn  conveniently.