The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and Abuja has posited that the closure of schools in four Northern states of Bauchi, Katsina, Kebbi and Kano for five weeks attributing the decision to Ramadan fasting is a setback to education in the region.
The Christian body, therefore, urged the governors who took that decision to be prepared to do the same during the Christian Lenten season.
A statement issued on Monday, and signed by the Chairman, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, condemned the decision by the governments of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi states to close public and private schools for five weeks.
The statement described the decision as a major setback for education in the region, saying, “If such religious considerations were to be applied fairly, then schools should also be shut during Lent, a move that would see children out of school for over two months in a year.”
It expressed concern over the impact of the prolonged closure on students preparing for key examinations like the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Christian body argued that the decision could lead to academic failure and further disadvantage northern students competing for admission into tertiary institutions.
Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, CAN highlighted that Bauchi, Kebbi, Katsina and Kano already have some of the highest rates of out-of-school children in Nigeria, with figures standing at 54 percent, 45 percent, 38 percent, and 35 percent, respectively.
CAN warned that shutting schools for religious reasons would worsen the region’s education crisis and widen the gap between northern and southern states in academic performance.
The association also questioned why predominantly Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates keep schools open during Ramadan, while northern states in Nigeria choose to close theirs.
“As peace-loving people, we urge our leaders to reconsider this decision and explore alternative measures such as adjusting school hours instead of shutting down learning institutions entirely,” the statement read.
CAN further revealed that consultations with Islamic scholars indicated that the school closures are not a religious requirement, but rather, a politically motivated decision.
The chairman urged northern governors to prioritise education and avoid policies that could portray the region negatively about learning.
He called on well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in the matter, while urging its members to remain calm and law-abiding. It stressed that education and religious observances must be balanced to secure a better future for the region’s children.
CBCN criticises decision
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has criticised the decision by some northern state governors to close schools for five weeks during Ramadan, describing it as a violation of the country’s secular principles and a threat to education.
In a statement signed by CBCN’s President, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji and Secretary, Bishop Donatus Ogun, the Bishops expressed concern that the closures affect not just Muslim students, but also Christian students and Christian-owned schools.
They argued that such a policy undermines the constitutional guarantee of religious neutrality and the fundamental right to education.
“The Nigerian state is secular, and this secularity is not a mere declaration; it is a fundamental principle that must guide all aspects of our national life,” the statement read, referencing Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits the government from adopting any religion as a state religion.
The CBCN also pointed to international human rights frameworks, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which affirm education as a fundamental right.
The Bishops warned that the school closures would worsen Nigeria’s already dire education crisis, particularly in the North, which has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.
Unwise action —Parents
Also, parents have taken a swipe at the four northern state governments for shutting down schools over the ongoing Ramadan fasting by the Muslims, describing the action as shocking and unwise.
The National President of Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (PTAN), Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, gave this position in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune on Monday when asked for reaction on the development.
He said he could not imagine, let alone, understand what could have led the governors of those four states to think in that direction, especially at this crucial period when SSS3 students are preparing for four major public examinations.
.According to him, we all know how important all these examinations are to students and that they need to prepare for the examinations to enable them to perform well.
He noted that it is clear that none of the examination bodies would because of any reason, including Ramadan fasting, lower its examination standard.
While pointing out that Nigeria operates uniform schools’ calendar nationwide and with students expected to cover specific syllabus within the period, Danjuma wondered why governors could shut down schools and ask students to stay at home because of Ramadan fasting when their mates in other 32 states of the federation and Abuja are going to school studying.
Prioritise education, CSO says
Also, a civil society group, the Impactive Centre for Accountability, Democracy and Rights (ICADAR), has frowned at the decision to close schools during Ramadan, saying it portends dangerous trends for the education of the children who are directly affected, describing it as politicisation of religious practices.
A statement signed by ICADAR’s Executive Director, Bello Ishaq, and made available to Nigerian Tribune in Abuja on Monday, said shutting down schools during Ramadan will lead to disruptions and a staggering loss of valuable learning time, adding that fasting is a significant practice for Muslims as it only becomes obligatory only after puberty, a stage ,he said ,majority of primary school children have not reached.
“The ICADAR stands firmly against the recent decision by the governors to close schools during the holy month of Ramadan.
“This policy not only disrupts the education of our children but also represents a dangerous politicization of religious practices that undermines the future of our youth and the development of our society.
“Fasting is a significant practice for Muslims, becoming obligatory only after puberty, a stage that the majority of primary school children have not reached. Most school-aged children do not fast, nor are they required to do so.
“Those in secondary school who may choose to fast are fully capable of managing their school responsibilities alongside this spiritual observance. This is the shared experience of billions of Muslims around the world.
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