No immediate plans to ban Almajiri, says Garba Shehu – TheNigerialawyer

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, says the plan by the
federal government to ban the Almajiri system of education is not
immediate.

Babagana Monguno, national security adviser, had announced that
the government was planning to proscribe the educational system in
a bid to curb insecurity.

The announcement had generated reactions from Nigerians.

In a statement on Friday, Shehu said while the government of
President Muhammadu Buhari wants all children in school, “we don’t
want to create panic or a backlash”.

He said due consultations will be made with relevant agencies
before any action is taken.

“The abrogation of the Almajiri (Qur’anic learning system
associated with begging on economic and religious grounds peculiar
to some Northern states) system of education remains an objective
but there is no immediate ban of it by the Buhari Administration,”
Shehu said.

“The presidency, therefore, calls for caution in responses to
the pronouncements by President Muhammadu Buhari on free and
compulsory basic education for every child of primary and junior
secondary school age in Nigeria, during his speech on Thursday,
June 20, at the inauguration of the National Economic Council
(NEC).

“While the Buhari administration is committed to free and
compulsory education as a long-term objective of bringing to an
end, the phenomenon of out-of-school children, any necessary ban on
Almajiri would follow due process and consultation with relevant
authorities.

“Indeed, the federal government wants a situation where every
child of primary school age is in school rather than begging on the
streets during school hours.

“Reports that there are plans for massive arrest of parents are
definitely out of place. Things have to be done the right and
considerate way.

“Free and compulsory primary school education is a requirement
of the Nigerian constitution and any individual or group not in
compliance with this is violating the law of the land and liable to
be punished.”

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