Wooden boad on wich talibe children learn

Daara is the title used in

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

to designate the traditional Quranic schools that have ensured for centuries that Islamic education was well spread out in all segments of population in the West African countries. Daara often implement physical punishment, which to many West African Muslims is considered to be an important part of the education process. The denomination conveys a very controversial portrait depending on the understanding one has of their usefulness in social progress. There have been frequent reports of abuse and "contemporary slavery" by organizations such as XALAAT and the United Nations. These reports include accusations of financial exploitation and ill-treatment of child beggars called

talibe A talibé (also spelled ''talibe'', plural ''talibés''; , 'student'; pl. ) is a boy, usually from Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Chad, Mali or Mauritania, who studies the Quran at a daara (West African equivalent of madrasa). This ...

. Many talibe in Senegal deliberately self-harm so they will need medical attention and be removed from the daaras.

References

Sufism Society of Senegal Islamic education Islamic terminology Madrasas Education in Senegal {{Senegal-stub