El-Rufai Goes Tough On Almajiri Education … Says, Parents Who Enroll Children For Almajirinci To Face Jail Term

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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El-Rufai Goes Tough On Almajiri Education
… Says, Parents Who Enroll Children For Almajirinci To Face Jail Term
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria
Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State has warned that henceforth, any parent in Kaduna state who enrols his child into the almajiri system of education would have to face prosecution of a two year jail term.
The stern warning was given on Monday, during his visit to rehabilitation and optical screening centre at Government College, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna where 
Almajiri children repatriated from Nasarawa State were undergoing reformation.
The almajiri children are children who supposedly are to be taught Quranic education by clerics under which they are enrolled.
The worrisome situation is that instead of these children being kept in a conducive learning environms where Quranic knowledge can be inculcated in them, they are in most cases found wandering on the streets begging.
An act that exposes them to danger or being used to perpetrate any form of vices.
Considering the gravity of such act on the child and the society at large, El-Rufai also warned that any Islamic cleric who enrolls any child into the Almajiri system would also face the music as the cleric would also  be prosecuted and jailed as well as paying fine of N100,000 or N200,000 fine per each child.
Speaking, he assured that all the Almajiri pupils repatriated from other states of the country would be given opportunity to excel as they are  indigenes of the state. The government would provide them  enabling environment to grow and develop. He said.
Expressing satisfaction with the ongoing transformation of the Almajiri pupils, a reformation that has kindled in them a hope for a better future, he said.
“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.
“We will, therefore, continue to take delivery of every Almajiri pupil indigenous to Kaduna state for rehabilitation, treatment and enrollment 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.
“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,” El-Rufa’i said.
Every child in Kaduna state the governor stressed must get 12-year free and compulsory primary and secondary school education.
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.
The Governor stated.
Acknowledging the roles and commitments displayed by agencies such as MHSSD and other state agencies for their support in the strive towards achieving this task, he reinstated the state’s commitment towards realizing this dream saying, the support, commitment and passion for the care and  welfare of the children both in terms of clothing and food by UNICEF, AMA foundation and other NGOs and civil societies would remain appreciated.
Governor El-Rufai thanked UNICEF for the proper documentation of all the repratrated almajiri children.
According to NAN,  no fewer than 500 of them were rehabilitated, treated (those who tested positive to COVID-19) and reunited with their families.
speaking, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, Commissioner, MHSSD, said that the state had so far received more than 900 Almajiri pupils from Kano, Bauchi, Plateau and Nasarawa states.
She added that some 400 others were still undergoing rehabilitation and would soon be reunited with their families
On his part, Dr Zakari Adam, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, commended Kaduna state government for the efforts to ensure that all children go to school as against begging in the streets.
Adam 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.
He stressed 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. 
The care and support provided by all El-Rufa’i said
has restored the sense of dignity of the children.
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