Christian faith-based institutions kick as Bauchi closes schools for Ramadan

The Bauchi State government has announced a five-week closure of schools to observe the Ramadan period, with classes set to resume after the Salah celebration on April 5, 2025.

According to the official academic calendar, the second term of the 2024/2025 school session started on January 5, 2025.

The term was split into two segments: the first running from January 5 to February 28, followed by a break from March 1 to April 5, with classes resuming from April 6 to April 29.

According to a report by SaharaReporters, the decision, however, has triggered opposition from some private school owners, especially those managing Christian-faith-based institutions, who argue that a uniform closure disregards the state’s religious diversity and could disrupt students’ learning.

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“This is not the first time the school will be ordered to close. We have had such cases before, and we set up a committee that liaised with the state education commissioner, who relaxed the order,” a source revealed.

Despite previous instances where school owners were given flexibility to decide whether to close during Ramadan, the state government has made the closure mandatory this year.

Concerned about the impact of the closure on academic progress, a coalition of Christian-faith-based schools has called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to intervene on behalf of their students.

In a letter signed by Musa Bogoro Zakka, a former chairman of Private School Owners in Bauchi Local Government, the group expressed concerns about how the extended break could hinder students’ preparations for crucial external exams like WAEC, NECO, and JAMB.

“We are writing on behalf of the Christian-faith-based schools in Bauchi State to bring to your attention the implication of the Bauchi State Ministry of Education Academic Calendar 2024/2025 session… which mandates all schools (private and public) to outrightly close during the Ramadan fast,” the letter states.

The group also argued that the disruption could harm students’ well-being and the coexistence between Christian and Muslim students, especially since civil servants and tertiary institutions continue operating during Ramadan.

However, Musa Hardo, chairman of the Bauchi State Private School Owners Association, defended the government’s decision, saying it was made after consultations with religious leaders.

“If you say the five-week break is because of Ramadan and you are angry, what about during Christmas? Should children now say they would not go on break during the period too?” Hardo questioned.

The state government has warned of sanctions for schools that refuse to comply with the closure. In a circular sent to private institutions, the Ministry of Education emphasized that all schools must shut down by February 26, 2025, with limited exceptions.

This decision comes amid concerns about education access in the state. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that Bauchi has the highest percentage of children deprived of education, surpassing even crisis-affected states.

Despite reaching out to the governor’s media aide for comment, no response had been received at the time of this report. Meanwhile, private school owners and Christian groups continue to seek dialogue with state authorities, hoping for a compromise that balances religious observance with the right to education.