The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has called for a comprehensive review of the Almajiri educational system in Northern Nigeria.
The demand was made in a communiqué issued after a community engagement meeting held on October 12, 2024, at the Munaj Event Centre in Katsina State.
The group emphasized that reforming the Almajiri system is crucial to reducing the number of children who resort to street begging due to a lack of access to formal education and economic opportunities.
The Almajiri system, a traditional Islamic education system, has been criticized for perpetuating poverty and dependence on street begging.
The CNG highlighted that the outdated system has contributed significantly to the region’s socio-economic challenges, including poverty, youth unemployment, and the overall decay in educational infrastructure.
It said reforming the Almajiri system is seen as a critical step towards reducing street begging and increasing school enrollment in Northern Nigeria.
The group urged the Northern states to take a proactive role in supporting educational reforms that focus on skills development and vocational training, stressing the importance of creating a structured framework for these reforms, involving local communities, religious leaders, and government agencies working together to implement sustainable solutions.
In the communique signed by the Katsina State coordinator of the group, Abubakar Karbi, the group outlined specific steps to address the challenges linked to the Almajiri system, including reforming the system, reducing street begging, encouraging community involvement, and fostering partnerships for educational development.
