Education Advocates Condemn Northern States’ Ramadan School Closures, Cite Threat to Learning

A civil society organization, the Impacthive Centre for Accountability, Democracy, and Rights (ICADAR), has slammed the decision by governments in Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi states to shut down schools during Ramadan, calling the move “a reckless politicization of religion” that jeopardizes education in regions already grappling with high rates of out-of-school children.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Bello Ishaq, ICADAR argued that closing schools undermines academic progress and exacerbates Nigeria’s learning crisis. The group noted that fasting during Ramadan is not obligatory for pre-pubescent children, who make up the bulk of primary school students, while older pupils have historically balanced religious observance with schooling.

“If governments are willing to close schools for Ramadan, why not hospitals, markets, or offices? Prioritizing political and religious optics over education is a disservice to children and the nation’s future,” the statement read. ICADAR urged the states to reverse the directive, stressing that Northern Nigeria’s education indicators are among the worst globally.

The criticism follows reports that Katsina and Bauchi states ordered private schools to suspend operations throughout Ramadan. In Katsina, the Hisbah Board issued a February 27, 2025, circular mandating closures and threatening penalties for non-compliance. Bauchi State extended its shutdown to five weeks, halting classes from February 26 to April 5, 2025, ostensibly to allow students to observe the holy month and Eid celebrations.

Dire Education Statistics

The decision comes amid alarming data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which ranks Bauchi, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kano among states with the highest percentages of out-of-school children. Bauchi leads at 54%, followed by Kebbi (45%), Katsina (38%), and Kano (35%)—all significantly above the national average of 34%. ICADAR warned that prolonged school closures risk deepening these disparities, noting that Northern Nigeria’s literacy rates and academic performance already lag behind other regions.

Mixed Reactions and Threats of Protest

While state officials defend the policy as promoting religious observance, groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have condemned it as discriminatory. NANS has threatened nationwide protests, arguing that the closures disproportionately affect non-Muslim students and undermine Nigeria’s secular education system.

Katsina’s Hisbah Board, however, insists the directive aligns with “community values,” stating, “We urge compliance to allow pupils to fully devote themselves to Ramadan.” Similar justifications were echoed in Bauchi, where the academic calendar was abruptly split to accommodate the five-week break.

ICADAR emphasized that the closures contradict global best practices, where schools often adjust schedules to support fasting students without halting education entirely. “Education is a right, not a privilege to be suspended for political or religious motives,” the group asserted, calling for urgent intervention to safeguard learning in the region.

As tensions rise, the debate highlights broader concerns over governance, equity, and the intersection of religion and public policy in Northern Nigeria.

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