Senate leader Lawan, seeks reform of almajiri system

Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan yesterday advocated immediate reform of the Almajiri System in the North that has existed for over a century to create opportunity for the almajiris to acquire formal education.

Lawan, who represents Yobe North Senatorial district, is relying on Order 43 of the Senate rule to argue that if the country desires to successfully fight crime and insurgency, it should review the sources of recruitment.

He said: “The recruits are there. There are 17-year olds who are supposed to be in school but are roaming the streets.

“Even though it is controversial, a time has come in those States where the Almajiri System is established for over 100 years to consider and see how we can work out a model that will ensure that the Almajiri System should not continue in the way and manner it is today.

He said the pupils could also acquire formal education without tampering with their religious learning, adding that government should provide a conducive atmosphere for the children who roam the streets to go to formal schools without compromising their learning for religious benefit.

“I believe that this will be a major issue because we have to transform this sector if we want to ensure that these people contribute to national development and reduce the chances and risk of getting them recruited into insurgency and banditry,” he added.

Lawan also noted that everybody was happy that enormous resources have been deployed to the health sector to develop it for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“I believe that the time has also come to give something substantial to education especially for the basic education and that captures from Kindergarten to junior secondary school education.”

“I have consciously decided to bring to our attention and that of other stakeholders what the provisions of the Universal Basic Education Act 2004 provides for the education of our children,” he said.

According to him, section 2 subsection 1 of the compulsory free Universal Education Act 2004, provides that every government in Nigeria shall provide compulsory and universal basic education for any child of primary and junior secondary school.

Subsection 2 provides that every parent shall ensure that his child or ward attend and complete his primary school education and junior secondary school education by endeavoring to sent the child to primary and junior secondary school

While section 3 provides that stakeholders shall ensure that every parent that is taking care of a child performs his or her duty as provided under Section 2 subsection 2 of this act, among other provisions.