Parents have condemned the decision by the governments of Katsina, Kebbi, Kano, and Bauchi states to shut down schools during the ongoing Ramadan fasting, describing the move as ill-advised and detrimental to students’ academic progress.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nigerian Tribune on Monday, the National President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (PTAN), Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, expressed shock over the decision, questioning its rationale at a time when SS3 students are preparing for crucial public examinations, including the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by WAEC and NECO, and the NABTEB examination.
Danjuma emphasized that adequate preparation is essential for success in these exams, stressing that “none of the examination bodies will lower their standards for any reason, including Ramadan fasting.”
The PTAN president criticized the governors’ decision, noting that Nigeria operates a uniform school calendar, and students nationwide are expected to complete a defined syllabus within a set timeframe.
“This decision, to us parents, is totally unwise and unacceptable and should be reversed,” Danjuma stated. He further argued that the move also infringes on the rights of non-Muslim students in those states to access education.
He pointed out that the four northern states in question already struggle with high numbers of out-of-school children, making such an unwarranted holiday particularly concerning.
Danjuma also raised concerns about the fairness of the decision, asking why teachers are granted a five-week break while other civil servants in these states continue working.
“That is another major issue and an unfair treatment of other civil servants in those states,” he noted, urging policymakers to consider the broader implications of their decisions.
Highlighting the lingering effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on education, Danjuma stressed that Nigeria should be focusing on bridging learning gaps rather than widening them.
He urged the governors of Katsina (Dikko Umar), Kano (Abba Kabir Yusuf), Kebbi (Nasir Idris), and Bauchi (Bala Mohammed) to reconsider their stance and allow students to resume academic activities.
“Education is not a sector to be toyed with or politicized,” he concluded.
