The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has strongly condemned the decision by the governments of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states to close public and private schools during the month of Ramadan.
This move has sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that it disrupts the academic calendar and undermines efforts to ensure quality education for all.
CAN has urged northern governors to balance education with spiritual observance, citing examples from Islamic-majority countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where schools remain open during Ramadan.
Instead of closing schools, CAN suggests cutting school hours to allow students and teachers to observe the fast.
The association has expressed concerns that the prolonged closure will negatively impact senior secondary students preparing for exams and junior students sitting for Junior Secondary Schools examinations.
Additionally, CAN notes that some children under 14 may not be religiously mature enough to observe the fast.
CAN has called on the governors of the affected states to reconsider their decision and prioritize education, warning that if the states remain adamant, it may explore legal options to protect the constitutional rights to education and freedom of conscience.
CAN’s Northern Chairman, Rev John Hayab, in a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna, expressed concerns that the closure would negatively impact senior secondary students preparing for WAEC examinations and junior students sitting for examination in the affected states.
He said: “We are worried about the school closure given the drawbacks in school life faced by children in most northern states triggered by rising insecurities, which have obstructed the education of our wards.
“The closure of schools can negatively impact senior secondary students who are preparing to sit for the exams organised by the Joint Matriculation Examination Board. The same also applies to junior students who sit for the Junior Secondary Schools exams.”
Additionally, Hayab pointed out that some children under 14 may lack the religious maturity to observe the fast.
He said: “The other anxiety is that some of the children asked to stay at home are under the age of 14 and, as such, may not even be religiously mature enough to observe the fast.
“The recent Multidimensional Poverty Index by the National Bureau for Statistics highlights the educational challenges in these states, with Bauchi at 54%, Kebbi at 45%, Katsina at 38%, and Kano at 35% of children lacking access to education.”
Hayab emphasized that even in predominantly Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, schools remain operational during Ramadan, and urged the affected states to emulate this approach.
Instead of closing schools, he suggested cutting school hours to allow students and teachers to observe the fast.
Hayab further stressed that the decision to shut down schools during Ramadan may be driven more by political considerations than Islamic principles.
He said: “From a global perspective, CAN in the 19 Northern States and the FCT observe that in places such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where Islam is the principal faith, even as we speak schools remain open during Ramadan, matching education with spiritual practice.
“On the strength of the above facts, the leadership of CAN 19 Northern States and the FCT views the move to close schools during Ramadan as misjudged and admonishes the affected states that the best approach could be to cut the school hours, say from morning to noon time, to permit school administrators and teachers as well as students who are of age to observe the fast to have some time but not total closure as the current move could weaken the prospects of delivering quality education for all in the region.
“CAN in the 19 Northern states has consulted with prominent Islamic scholars and from their explanation we realize that the decisions of those Governors could just be political expediency and not backed by any Islamic teaching.
“CAN Northern Nigeria therefore wishes to appeal to governors of Northern Nigeria especially those who are championing this kind of ill advice idea to stop presenting our region in bad light and make people to laugh at us as if we are unserious people.
“As a peace-loving organisation, CAN called on the people to remain calm and law-abiding and challenge stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to address the matter amicably.
“As peace-loving people, CAN in the 19 Northern States and Abuja in solidarity with the statement released by the National President of CAN yesterday on this subject matter are calling on the people to remain calm and law-abiding and challenge stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to address the matter most amicably.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given the governors a 72-hour ultimatum to reverse their decision, threatening nationwide protests and legal action if the directive is not overturned.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Samson Adeyemi, condemned the policy in a statement on Monday, calling it a blatant violation of students’ rights to uninterrupted education.
The decision according to Adeyemi, would severely disrupt academic progress and unfairly discriminate against students of other faiths.
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