Students of traditional Koranic schools once garnered respect in the Muslim world. But that image is under threat in the Senegalese capital Dakar. There, students are increasingly viewed as beggars instead of diligent disciples.
MADELEINE BRAND, host: This is DAY TO DAY.  I'm Madeleine Brand.</s>MADELEINE BRAND, host: In a few minutes, we get a look at the latest handheld gadgets on the      market now.</s>MADELEINE BRAND, host: But first, a look at an institution that frowns on Western-style      consumerism: Muslim religious schools.  In the majority Muslim West      African nation of Senegal, there are concerns about the reputation of      traditional Koranic schools.  Mass urbanization has tarnished the image      of these once-respected village schools.  NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton      reports.</s>OFEIBEA QUIST-ARCTON reporting: Coins clinking in a large, red tomato paste tin can is a familiar sound      on many street corners in downtown Dakar, the Senegalese capital.  That's      the tell-tale trademark Begenfo(ph), slung around the necks of young boys      known here in Senegal as Talibae(ph), or disciples.  These children are      meant to be studying the Koran, but most of the barefoot boys with runny      noses and dirty, ragged clothes are not learning the Muslim holy book.      The Talibae spend long days trudging up and down the streets of Senegal's      cities with their hands outstretched as they approach you for a little      money with a whispered prayer. Begging for a coin or two, they say the      collections are for their marabu(ph), their teachers.</s>OFEIBEA QUIST-ARCTON reporting: Unidentified Boy #1:  (Foreign language spoken)</s>QUIST-ARCTON: These boys say they've come from far, all the way across      the border from Guinea-Bissau and neighboring Mali to Senegal.  For some      unscrupulous adults, the Talibae make excellent business sense.  Some of      the boys say they get beaten if they don't deliver a daily quota,      sometimes as much as a dollar, and that's a princely sum in Senegal.  But      when asked to recite the Koran, they can barely do so.</s>QUIST-ARCTON: Unidentified Boy #2:  (Foreign language spoken)</s>QUIST-ARCTON: Ian Hopwood is the head of the United Nations children's      agency UNICEF in Senegal.  He says the child beggars are a growing      problem, with an estimated 100,000 in a country of 10 million.  That's      about 1 percent of Senegal's population.</s>Mr. IAN HOPWOOD (UNICEF): It is extremely emotionally distressing to see      these children in these streets living in these circumstances and having      a childhood totally ruined and destroyed.  What sort of adults, what sort      of future is there for these children, who are away from their families      in a situation of poor health care, poor nutrition, bad treatment and      exploited through these daily activities?</s>QUIST-ARCTON: The issue of these beggar boys remains socially sensitive      in this predominantly Muslim nation.  It's a problem the Senegalese      government does not publicize.  But journalist and commentator Amadu      Ticanci(ph) says just about everyone is talking about the Talibae.</s>Mr. AMADU TICANCI (Journalist): It was accepted in traditional societies      that these boys who are learning go to beg but--just to infuse humility,      but it has been corrupted, deeply corrupted by the urban societies,      transformed in the way that some teachers have now found wealth.  I think      the number of beggars in the streets gives a bad impression, but it also      shows the poverty.  It's not only the Talibae factor, but it's a general      picture of how far poverty has taken root in this country.</s>QUIST-ARCTON: About an hour's drive east of the Senegalese capital, 20      young boys are studiously reciting the Koran from their wooden handheld      blackboards in a sandy-floored classroom.  This is a conventional dara, a      Koranic school near Lushisque(ph).</s>Unidentified Teacher: (Foreign language spoken)</s>QUIST-ARCTON: They're learning the Koran, Arabic, linguistics and      Islamic law and sciences from their unsalaried religious teacher,      Hustasmanso Gai(ph). He's deeply concerned that what he calls charlatans      are giving a bad name to genuine Koranic schools like his.</s>Mr. HUSTASMANSO GAI: (Through Translator) It's very painful to see.  It      brings our profession into disrepute and tarnishes our image as marabu.      People are saying religious teachers are no good and we only want to make      money.   But we're making great sacrifices to teach, guide and look after      the children in our care.</s>QUIST-ARCTON: Back in Dakar, the tomato tin can boys say they must beg      to survive.  Ian Hopwood, UNICEF's country director in Senegal, says      meanwhile they're struggling to reverse the worrisome trend of child      street beggars.</s>Mr. IAN HOPWOOD (UNICEF): The problem is big, so we're trying to work with the      Senegalese government to put an end to this problem, this exploitation.      We're also working with action groups who are very much concerned, so      we're trying to build this public debate, which will help Senegal as a      society to say, `We have to put an end to this.'</s>QUIST-ARCTON: UNICEF says everyone in Senegal must understand that      children should be protected and not exploited.  Ofeibea Quist-Arcton,      NPR News.</s>MADELEINE BRAND, host: More coming up on DAY TO DAY from NPR News.