It appears there is a paradigm shift in Almajiri schools in Kebbi State as their pupils no longer engage in begging for food as is the tradition for ages.
Caliphate Trust investigation in Birnin Kebbi showed that many teachers in these schools now encourage their pupils to learn a trade, which they engage in to earn a living in between school hours.
Unlike in the past, when such pupils beg for food even if they engage in menial jobs, now the situation has changed as the teachers emphasise the need for self-reliance to their pupils.
Prior to now, only the senior pupils were allowed to acquire some skills but the situation is changing now as even those between 10 and 12 years engage in acquiring skills.
Eleven-year-old Shafiu Ila, told Caliphate Trust that he was made to learn cobbling by his teacher about three years ago.
He said he used the free period in between the two school sessions to practice his trade and engaged full day on school’s off days. He said he normally makes between N200 to N400.
Mamman Surajo, another 10-year-old Almajiri, said he learnt manicure about two years ago but because of his tender age, people hardly patronise him as such he had to change for another vocation.
Surajo said he was now an apprentice in one of the car wash centres in Birnin Kebbi where he was earning enough to feed himself daily.
He said he worked full days on his school off days making up to N3,000 a day.
One of the teachers, Alaramma Muhammadu, told Caliphate Trust that he introduced his pupils to learning a vocation as he hated seeing them eating from leftovers.
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