Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, has voiced concerns over the decision by Bauchi, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kano to close state-owned schools for Ramadan, warning of its impact on students’ learning.
During an interview on Political Paradigm, Ahmad stressed the need to keep schools open to prevent disruptions in academic activities. While acknowledging that state governments control their education policies, she revealed that discussions were underway to reconsider the closures.
The move has drawn criticism, with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) arguing that suspending education for religious observances is unfair to non-Muslim students and could further escalate Nigeria’s education crisis. The country already has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with UNICEF estimating the figure at 18.3 million as of 2024.
