On Monday, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), decried the decision of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states to close schools for five weeks during Ramadan, calling it a setback for education. He argued that if religious observances dictate school closures, then schools should also close during Lent, risking over two months out of school for children.
CAN expressed concern that this closure would negatively impact students preparing for important examinations like the WASSCE and UTME, potentially leading to academic failures and widening the performance gap between northern and southern states. The National Bureau of Statistics indicates that these states have some of Nigeria's highest rates of out-of-school children, exacerbating the existing education crisis.
The statement noted that countries with Muslim populations, such as Saudi Arabia, maintain school operations during Ramadan, questioning the rationale behind the closures in northern Nigeria. CAN called for adjusting school hours instead of full closures and indicated that consultations revealed the decision was politically motivated rather than a religious necessity.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) also condemned the governors, stating that these closures violate Nigeria’s secular principles and affect all students. They referenced Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution, emphasizing education as a fundamental right and warning that such policies could worsen the educational crisis.
Parents, represented by Alhaji Haruna Danjuma of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria, expressed their disapproval, emphasizing the importance of public examinations and questioning the reasoning behind the closures while education continues elsewhere. Civil society organizations have echoed the call for prioritizing education and reconsidering the closures' impact on students' futures.
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