The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and Abuja has condemned the decision of some northern state governments to close public and private schools for five weeks during Ramadan.
The directive, affecting Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states, has raised concerns about its impact on students’ education. In a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna, Northern CAN Chairman, Rev. John Hayab, urged governors in the region to balance religious observance with academic commitments rather than shutting down schools entirely.
Rev. Hayab emphasized that the school closures would disrupt learning, particularly for senior secondary students preparing for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations and junior students sitting for their Junior Secondary School exams. He warned that students in these states were already struggling with the effects of insecurity, which had significantly hindered educational progress.
He also pointed out that some of the affected students, particularly those under the age of 14, may not be religiously obligated to observe fasting, raising questions about the necessity of the directive. Citing the Multidimensional Poverty Index by the National Bureau of Statistics, he noted that Bauchi has 54% of children lacking access to education, Kebbi 45%, Katsina 38%, and Kano 35%.
Hayab referenced predominantly Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where schools remain open during Ramadan. Instead of outright closures, he suggested reducing school hours to accommodate fasting students and teachers. He stated that a better approach would be adjusting school hours, such as running classes from morning to noon, allowing time for religious observance while ensuring education is not disrupted.
CAN also questioned the justification for the decision, arguing that it appears to be politically motivated rather than rooted in Islamic teachings. According to Hayab, consultations with prominent Islamic scholars revealed that these school closures might be driven by political considerations rather than religious doctrine.
The Christian body urged the affected governors to reverse their decision, warning that such policies could damage the region’s reputation and hinder educational progress. CAN also called on the public to remain calm and law-abiding while urging stakeholders to work toward a resolution. In solidarity with the statement from the CAN National President, the organization appealed to Nigerians to address the matter peacefully and find a solution that supports both education and religious observance.
