ARABIC EDUCATION IN NIGERIA AND "RE-ACTIVATING" ALMAJIRI SCHOOLS IN GOMBE STATE TO ACHIEVE RELIGIOUS AND NATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Abstract

This study is aimed to highlights the meaning of the term Arabic education, the concept of Almajiri, the roles and achievements of Almajiri education to the development of the society. However, the work concentrates on the challenges and problems of Almajiri system of education that need to address and the basic necessary needs for Reactivating Almajiri schools in Gombe state. The research further analyze the views of “Mallams” Teachers, Almajiri/pupils, schools heads, community and religious leaders, concerning the “Reactivation” of Almajiri education in Gombe state, the government efforts in creating policies, reformations and strategies in solving the challenges of Almajiri system of education to achieve a desire results, and the Bill passed by National Assembly on establishing Almajiri and school -out children commission on its positive impact on the welfare of Almajiri education in Nigeria in general and Gombe state in particular. This research work adopts descriptive survey design as an instrument for gathering information, where the target population of 400 Almajiri pupils and 80 Mallams (teachers) were used to respond to questionnaires of the study, while 46 community and religious leaders, school heads, were used to interviews. The major findings reveal that reactivation of Almajiri schools is necessary in Gombe state and is regarded as a positive steps-towards improving the Almajiri education system, whereby the government should involve fully in reactivating Almajiri schools to meet the needs of the modern world, to make the system to be conducive atmosphere for learning. The findings of this study showed that, the government efforts in creating policies, reformations, passing a Bill by National Assembly for establishing a commission on Almajiri education and out-of school children, is a welcome idea and has a great achievement for reactivating and reforming the system which could address its challenges. The study reveals that the most significant challenge faced by Almajiri children is Begging (Bara) which led to increase in vulnerability, exploitation and abuse. However, the findings revealed that the significant barrier in reactivating Almajiri education is categorization of the students of such schools as illiterates.