Join hands to fix/ban Almajiranci

Background: For ages, child molestation and harassment in the name of Quranic education has been endemic and normalized in Northern Nigeria. Irresponsible or illiterate parents send their toddlers to unconventional, extremely poorly kept and densely populated schools. We have read and seen cases of death or permanent injuries inflicted on those kids in the name of punishment for minor offenses by their teachers/guardians. At the end, students spend much of their time either begging for food or working in farms for their boss instead of learning.

Ramification on the entire society: If you think you are safe, those innocent kids that are deprived of their motherly love, basic education and the right to eat and sleep in a hygienic environment will perhaps be the next kidnapper to adopt or kill you and your child. Worst of all, we are all responsible in the sight of God, we will all account for not doing anything.

Questions: To those backing the policy, why aren’t your kids joining the same system? To our leaders, why can’t we simply stop this cruelty by just legislating a total ban on it? Are you scared of losing votes? Or are you contended with the system? I believe it is the former.

Way forward: A total ban on Almajiranci for any child below a certain age to be recommended by experts, in addition, limitation on teacher-student ratio should be imposed, and comfortable accommodation must be provided by any interested person to carry out such schools.