海角大神

Slowing to a stop at an intersection in the developing world, it鈥檚 not uncommon to look out the car window and see children 鈥� often clad in tattered clothes or without shoes 鈥� buzz into traffic to solicit donations.

The West African nation of Senegal is no different, except that many of these youngsters are "students" at informal religious schools called Daaras 鈥� and their begging is said to be a part of their Quranic education.

It is a system that is deeply ingrained in the country's Muslim history and culture, but while some say begging teaches humility, others argue it is simply a way for religious leaders to exploit poor children for their own monetary gain.

鈥淭he ... phenomenon is ancient, it is religious education,鈥� says Senegalese President Macky Sall, who was in Cambridge, Mass., this month as part of Harvard University's African Development Conference. 鈥淏ut it is very informal and has not been supported by the government, which has led to some abuse.鈥�

This abuse is an issue that President Sall, who is one year into his term, has already had to confront.

Called 迟补濒颈产茅蝉, from the Arabic word for student, these boys are generally between 4 and 13 years old and come from poor families throughout the country and neighboring Guinea Bissau. They spend a large portion of each day begging for money and food on the streets 鈥� with scant time spent in a classroom under adult supervision. Begging is an accepted way to teach the Islamic tenet of humility, something that is well understood in a nation that is 95 percent Muslim (though wealthier families don鈥檛 turn to Daaras to teach these lessons).

Living conditions for 迟补濒颈产茅蝉 are dismal, often consisting of cramped quarters, flaps of cardboard for beds, and unsanitary surroundings.

The extreme day-to-day reality faced by these young boys was once again brought to the fore this month when a fire ripped through a Dakar-based Daara housing scores of youth, killing nine of the children.

鈥淭his is a tragedy鈥�. It is something we regret,鈥� Sall told 海角大神 just days after the deadly fire.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly denounced Daara-related abuse: Seven children killed in the March fire were locked in their room, unable to escape. A 2010 Human Rights Watch report noting that, based on interviews with 175 former and current 迟补濒颈产茅蝉, the children are 鈥渇orced to endure often extreme forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation by the teachers, or marabouts, who serve as their de facto guardians.鈥�

鈥淸罢补濒颈产茅蝉] are at the center of an intense and longstanding social debate鈥� in Senegal, says Leonardo Villal贸n, associate professor of African Studies at the University of Florida and author of 鈥淚slamic Society and State Power in Senegal.鈥�

鈥淚t comes down to human rights issues. Is this child abuse or is it not?鈥� Mr. Villal贸n says.

Villal贸n says the fire was awful, but he worries that some people, particularly outside of Senegal may 鈥渏ump from there to say Islamic schools are bad.鈥�

Daaras are 鈥渧ery legitimate,鈥� he says, noting that the vast majority of Senegalese seek some form of religious instruction. The state incorporated religious education 鈥� typically Islam, due to the population breakdown, but 海角大神ity as well 鈥� into public education in the early 2000s. 鈥淭he conditions [of Daaras] are a real problem, but it鈥檚 a problem rooted in 鈥� poverty.鈥�

鈥淏oys are often sent to Daaras in urban centers [by families] believing they are providing their children with an opportunity to learn the tenets of Islam,鈥�

Mohamed Ch茅rif Diop, a child protection specialist at the Senegal-based, international nongovernmental organization Tostan, says via e-mail. The children are able to receive an education without having to pay for food or fees for school, and many parents feel they are helping their child create a brighter future for himself by sending him to a Daara.

"It is the families who make the decision to send their children to the Daara, choosing a particular marabout [teacher] because of family connections or because of a marabout鈥檚 reputation for being a good teacher," Mr. Diop says.

There are already laws on the books in Senegal to curb begging by minors, such as a 2005 law passed by former President Abdoulaye Wade that carries a maximum five year sentence and fines for sending children out to beg. The law 鈥� which was reinforced in 2010 鈥� clearly hasn鈥檛 been effectively enforced, though, and some ask whether or not the government must target the Daaras themselves.

No law has yet been passed that lays out minimum standards for all Quranic schools, but Sall says the government has made the decision to stop 鈥渢his kind of institution, and help the [country鈥檚] rightful religious schools educate in better conditions and give children a better environment鈥� in which to learn.

鈥淲e鈥檙e working very hard on that,鈥� says Sall, who worked in President Wade鈥檚 12-year administration before defeating him with nearly 66 percent of the vote in a runoff last March.

What 鈥渂etter conditions鈥� means exactly is yet to be seen. Sall says the government will close the Daaras based on investigations carried out by the police and ministry of welfare, and will involve religious associations.

鈥淚t will be very important work [involving] social dialogue to find an appropriate solution,鈥� Sall says.

The government鈥檚 program to modernize the Daaras could eventually be a solution to the many problems associated with these informal schools and religious education, Diop says. But all levels of society must be involved in the process.

鈥淐ollaboration and mutual support for the protection of our children are essential at all levels 鈥� from the government to the grassroots 鈥� to create sustainable social transformation.鈥�