The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern States and Abuja has condemned the closure of public and private schools in some Northern states during Ramadan.
While condemning the action of the affected states, the Christian body asked northern governors to match education with spiritual practice.
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The call followed the directive to close public and private schools in Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states for five weeks during Ramadan.
In a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna, Northern CAN Chairman, Rev John Hayab, expressed concerns that the closure would negatively impact senior secondary students preparing for examinations and junior students sitting for Junior Secondary Schools examination in the affected states.
He said, “We are worried about the school closure given the drawbacks in school life faced by children in most northern states triggered by rising insecurities, which have obstructed the education of our wards.
“The closure of schools can negatively impact senior secondary students who are preparing to sit for the exams organised by the Joint Matriculation Examination Board. The same also applies to junior students who sit for the Junior Secondary Schools exams.”
Hayab also noted that some children under 14 may not be religiously mature enough to observe the fast.
“The other anxiety is that some of the children asked to stay at home are under the age of 14 and, as such, may not even be religiously mature enough to observe the fast.
“The recent Multidimensional Poverty Index by the National Bureau for Statistics highlights the educational challenges in these states, with Bauchi at 54%, Kebbi at 45%, Katsina at 38%, and Kano at 35% of children lacking access to education,” he said.
The CAN leader noted that even in countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, schools remain open during Ramadan, urging the affected states to adopt a similar approach.
Instead of closing schools, he suggested cutting school hours to allow students and teachers to observe the fast.
Hayab also emphasised that the decision to close schools may not be backed by Islamic teachings, but rather political expediency.
He said, “From a global perspective, CAN in the 19 Northern States and the FCT observe that in places such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where Islam is the principal faith, even as we speak schools remain open during Ramadan, matching education with spiritual practice.
“On the strength of the above facts, the leadership of CAN 19 Northern States and the FCT views the move to close schools during Ramadan as misjudged and admonishes the affected states that the best approach could be to cut the school hours, say from morning to noon time, to permit school administrators and teachers as well as students who are of age to observe the fast to have some time but not total closure as the current move could weaken the prospects of delivering quality education for all in the region.
“CAN in the 19 Northern states has consulted with prominent Islamic scholars and from their explanation we realize that the decisions of those Governors could just be political expediency and not backed by any Islamic teaching.”
Consequently, the organisation appealed to the governors to reconsider their decision and prioritize education.
“CAN Northern Nigeria therefore wishes to appeal to governors of Northern Nigeria especially those who are championing this kind of ill advice idea to stop presenting our region in bad light and make people to laugh at us as if we are unserious people.
“As a peace-loving organisation, CAN called on the people to remain calm and law-abiding and challenge stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to address the matter amicably.
“As peace-loving people, CAN in the 19 Northern States and Abuja in solidarity with the statement released by the National President of CAN yesterday on this subject matter are calling on the people to remain calm and law-abiding and challenge stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to address the matter most amicably,” Hayab added.
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