Reps block move to integrate Almajiri in basic education | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
18th July 2019
The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously rejected the prayer of a motion seeking to make the Federal Ministry of Education integrate the Almajiri education system into the Universal Basic Education programme.
During its plenary on Thursday, 18th July, the motion was sponsored by Mansur Soro , Ibrahim Umar, Saidu Abdullahi and Shehu Beji.
With its 10 prayers, it was titled, “Need to Eradicate Child Destitution and Remove Beggars from Nigerian Streets through Provision of Standardised Education System and Improved Livelihood.”
Though the motion was adopted, only nine of the prayers were granted.
The exception was the second one that the House should “urge the Federal Ministry of Education to integrate the Almajiri education system into the Universal Basic Education programme.”
Other prayers granted by the lawmakers include to, “Declare child destitution and begging a national emergency and call on governments at all levels to ensure that children are provided with opportunities to access basic education as guaranteed by the United Nations Convention.
“Urge the affected states to comply with extant laws on basic education , especially the UBEC Act, by ensuring that all children between the ages of six and 16 are given free and compulsory education.”
In a related development, EduCeleb.com earlier highlighted how the passage of the Child’s Destitution Bill currently at the  Nigerian Senate would better address the Almajiri phenomenon in Nigeria.
The bill was sponsored by Aliyu Wamakko, a senator representing Sokoto South. The bill is yet to come up for deliberation after passing its second reading since the 9th Senate resumed.