Koranic Schools pt. 2

In language class today we talked about the Koranic School system in Mauritania. Our facilitator has researched it and published papers about it. For most students, the day breaks down to 3 hours of schooling, 10 hours of begging, and 11 hours of rest or sleeping. He told us that it's not uncommon for students to be beaten if they don't bring enough money back to the school. In general, the goal of the school is to have students memorize the Koran, but only a few students accomplish that or even learn to read Arabic during their time there, which usually about 10 years.
     His research also shows that the begging is more characteristic of Pulaar Koranic schools and rare in Moor culture. He feels the system is very bad for the children and creating a generation of beggars. He explained that most students come from large rural families that are unable to feed or care for them. The drought of the last few decades has exacerbated this situation and increased the ranks of Koranic school students. The teachers and the schools are not capable of providing for or educating the additional students and there is a limited social need for the Imams they create.