FG unveils Almajiri education reform, outlaws street begging by learners

The policy further seeks to strengthen the capacity of Alarammas and other facilitators by integrating them into teacher development programmes organised by agencies such as the Universal Basic Education Commission, State Universal Basic Education Boards, the National Teachers’ Institute and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

The Federal Government stressed that the policy is intended to reform and strengthen the Almajiri education system rather than abolish it.

According to the document, the framework is designed to provide clear operational guidelines, improve regulation, safeguard learners and teachers, promote their welfare and enhance economic productivity through education and skills development.

The government attributed many of the longstanding challenges facing the Almajiri system to years of inadequate regulation, poor funding, parental neglect and widespread misconceptions. It noted that the practice of children roaming the streets to seek alms had exposed many learners to exploitation, abuse and other forms of vulnerability while contributing to Nigeria’s out-of-school children challenge.

The policy also gives special attention to girls enrolled in Qur’anic education, acknowledging that they have historically received limited support despite facing greater risks of exploitation, neglect and restricted access to formal education.

Implementation of the policy will be coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, state governments, local government education authorities, traditional institutions, parents, community leaders and development partners.

The commission will oversee nationwide implementation, maintain a database of learners and facilitators, mobilise funding, enforce child protection standards, support the registration of learning centres and work with relevant agencies to integrate basic education, technical and vocational training, digital literacy and skills acquisition into the Almajiri education system.

The new policy builds on the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education in 2023, which was created to coordinate interventions aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

The government expressed optimism that the policy would provide a comprehensive national framework for regulating Almajiri learning centres while improving educational access, learner welfare and accountability across the system.