FG raps governors for shutting schools during Ramadan, directs reversal of order

The federal government has rapped the governors of Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi for closing schools during Ramadan, stating that there is no religious basis for such action.

It directed that the states should consider a reversal of the order.

The directive to reopen schools comes amid concerns that prolonged closures will exacerbate the educational crisis in the North

The four northern states had closed schools for the Ramadan period.

While the four states shut down schools for five weeks, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State reduced the official working hours for civil servants to six hours.

In fact, the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria had urged Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa, and other states to adopt similar measures.

But the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasised that even in Saudi Arabia, a recognised Muslim nation, schools remained open during Ramadan.

Ahmad acknowledged the autonomy of the states in managing their education systems but stressed that closing schools for Ramadan was unnecessary and detrimental to student learning.

This move is particularly concerning given the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, with UNICEF reporting 18.3 million children absent from classrooms.

Bauchi has the highest rate of out-of-school children at 54%, followed by Kebbi at 45%, Katsina at 38%, and Kano at 35% .