The Bauchi State Government under the administration of Governor Bala Mohammad has ordered the closure of schools for five weeks over Ramadan fasting.
According to the directive, schools will be closed from February 26, 2025, until the end of Ramadan and the Salah celebration, with classes set to resume on April 5.
The official academic calendar shows that the second term of the 2024/2025 session began on January 5, 2025.
However, the state government divided the term into two phases: the first from January 5 to February 28, followed by a five-week break from March 1 to April 5, and classes resuming from April 6 to April 29.
Meanwhile, this directive has not been well received by private school owners, particularly those of Christian faith, who argue that due to the diverse student population, the government’s order should not deny all students access to education.
“This is not the first time the school will be ordered to close; we have had such a case before, and we set up a committee that liaised with the state education commissioner, who relaxed the order,” a source told SaharaReporters.
However, it was learned that the state government took a different approach this time, insisting that all schools must close during the Ramadan fasting period.
Unhappy with the government’s decision, particularly the controversial calendar that halts education for five weeks for Nursery, Primary, and Secondary school students, a group known as “Christian-faith-based schools” in Bauchi has opposed the directive and is seeking intervention.
In a letter obtained by SaharaReporters, the group in a letter signed by Musa Bogoro Zakka, the immediate past Chairman of Private School Owners in Bauchi Local Government and the 2015 Bauchi State Chairman of the National Association of Private School Owners, appealed to the Christian Association of Nigeria to advocate on behalf of Christian students to the state government.
The letter reads, “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 for nursery/Primary and Secondary Schools which mandates all schools (private and public ) to outrightly close during the Ramadan Fast, which begins from 1st March 5th April 2025.
“When we made an observation at the beginning, we were told that even CAN was part of the stakeholders who planned the calendar and we cannot be more Christians.
“However, as the days draw closer, the feedback from the Christian faith-based schools necessitates the request to have an audience with you and raise our concerns for a way forward.”
The group argued that staying at home for Five (5) weeks and resuming to conclude the term “will definitely affect the preparations of students towards external examinations (WAEC, NECO, and JAMB) since our syllabi may not be covered.”
They also noted that the “proposed calendar will surely damage the morals of students who are expected to return and start writing examinations, and continue another term without break for 14 weeks while teachers’ mark record and are still expected to discharge their duties simultaneously and seamlessly”.
The group also argued that the closure could harm peaceful coexistence between Christian and Muslim students in the state, as it might be seen as forcing all students to stay at home regardless of their religious affiliations.
institutions and civil servants were not required to suspend activities.
Meanwhile, in a circular sent to private schools by the head of private schools in the state ministry of education, it was stated that private schools must adhere to the government directive.
It reads, “I am directed to inform you that the official closing date of all Nursery, Primary, and Secondary Schools in the State is Wednesday, 26th February 2025. All Private Schools must comply with the academic calendar.
“Although, the liberty of one week before or after, still stands (but with a concrete reason).”
“The Local Government Taskforce on Private Schools is instructed by the Ministry to forward the name of school(s) that refuse to comply for further necessary action, please,” the statement noted.
