Northern Nigerian leaders from Bauchi, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kano states have closed schools for Ramadan, leading to criticism from activist Omoyele Sowore, who accuses them of hypocrisy as they send their children to elite schools. He argues this decision marginalizes the poor and contradicts practices in other Muslim-majority countries. Critics, including Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, argue that such closures are unnecessary and counterproductive.
Northern Nigerian leaders from Bauchi, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kano states have decided to close schools during Ramadan, a move criticized by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore. He contends that these officials do not bear the consequences of their decisions as they send their children to elite schools abroad or private institutions in Abuja, utilizing public funds meant for economically disadvantaged public schools.
Sowore labeled these leaders as “irresponsible and wicked,” highlighting that while their children access quality education, poor kids are deprived of schooling during Ramadan. His comments were compounded by criticism from Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, who argued that there is no requirement for schools to close during the fasting month, citing examples from Muslim-majority countries like Saudi Arabia.
Continuing his argument, Sowore expressed his concerns on social media that the leaders responsible for school closures do not enroll their children in struggling public schools. He echoed that this decision would further marginalize children in northern states, which already struggle with high illiteracy rates. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi rank high in numbers of out-of-school children, and Bauchi has the highest at 54%.
Sowore referred to the northern governors’ decisions as “ignorant” and “idiotic,” questioning the overlap of religion and education in a secular Nigeria. He mentioned the absurdity of closing schools in contrast to the practices of other Muslim nations that continue education during Ramadan. He asserted that under his envisioned governance, religious policies would not hinder educational initiatives and vowed to prevent such closures if elected as President.
Religious and educational organizations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have criticized the closures as discriminatory and counterproductive. Nevertheless, the Katsina State government has reaffirmed its stance, expanding the school shutdown to private institutions and warning against non-compliance with the directive.
The closure of schools during Ramadan by northern Nigerian states has attracted considerable criticism for potentially exacerbating educational inequality in the region. Activist Omoyele Sowore highlights the hypocrisy of leaders who, while imposing these closures, utilize public resources for the education of their children in private or foreign schools. This situation raises broader concerns about the intersection of religious practices with educational policies in a secular state, calling for a reevaluation of such decisions that adversely affect economically disadvantaged children.
Original Source: saharareporters.com
