Bauchi Announces Five-Week School Closure for Ramadan
The Bauchi State government has announced the closure of all schools across the state for five weeks in observance of Ramadan, affecting public and private primary, secondary, and higher institutions. The break, scheduled from March 1 to April 5, was already included in the 2024-2025 academic calendar, according to Jalaludeen Maina, Information Officer for the Ministry of Education.
Maina explained that the decision was made to ensure that students do not have to observe the Ramadan fast while in school. He assured that academic activities would resume immediately after the fasting period.
However, the extended break has sparked concerns among parents, many of whom worry about its impact on their children’s education. Some fear that such a long hiatus could lead to a decline in learning retention, while others warn that it might contribute to the already high number of out-of-school children in the state.
Sunita Joseph, a concerned parent, questioned the length of the break, stating that students could forget what they had learned before the holiday. Similarly, Ismail Raji urged the government to reconsider the decision, warning that it could further discourage school attendance. Mohammed Isa also criticized the move, pointing out that Bauchi State already has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the country. He called on the government to focus on initiatives that promote education rather than prolonged school closures.
