The Federal Government has strongly criticized the governors of Bauchi, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kano states for closing schools during the holy month of Ramadan, directing them to reopen the institutions immediately to avoid further disruption to the education of millions of children. Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, in a statement on Wednesday, emphasized that there is no religious justification for shutting down schools for Ramadan, citing examples of predominantly Muslim nations such as Saudi Arabia, where schools remain in session throughout the period. “There is no religious basis for shutting down schools during Ramadan. Even in countries like Saudi Arabia, which are recognised as Muslim nations, educational institutions continue to function normally during this period,” Ms Ahmad stated. While acknowledging that state governments have autonomy in managing their education systems, the Minister insisted that “closing schools for Ramadan is unnecessary and detrimental to student learning.” She further urged state leaders to prioritize education, emphasizing that Nigeria already grapples with a high number of out-of-school children, and further disruptions only exacerbate the crisis. According to a recent UNICEF report, Nigeria has approximately 18.3 million out-of-school children, the highest in the world. Bauchi has the highest rate at 54 per cent, followed by Kebbi at 45 per cent. Katsina and Kano also contribute significantly to the statistics, with 38 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively. Education experts and rights groups have expressed concerns that the closure of schools for religious observances sets a dangerous precedent, further endangering the future of children in northern Nigeria. “The northern region already faces a severe education crisis, with insecurity and poverty keeping many children out of school. Adding unnecessary school closures to the mix only deepens the problem,” said Dr. Musa Sadiq, an education policy analyst. Meanwhile, the directive from the Federal Government has sparked mixed reactions across the affected states. Some parents and religious leaders support the governors' decision, arguing that Ramadan is a time for spiritual growth and that academic activities could be reduced to accommodate fasting students. However, others, including civil society organizations, have welcomed the Federal Government’s intervention, stating that education must be prioritized to combat the growing illiteracy rate in the country. A secondary school teacher in Kano, Amina Yusuf, lamented that each year, students in some northern states face disruptions to their education due to reasons that do not affect students in other parts of the country. “This is why we continue to fall behind. Children in other regions are in school, while ours are sent home for non-academic reasons. If we want to compete nationally and internationally, we must make education a top priority,” she said. As the debate continues, all eyes are now on the governors of Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, and Kebbi to see how they will respond to the Federal Government’s directive. Whether they will reverse their decision and reopen schools remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the urgency to address Nigeria’s education crisis has never been greater.   #EducationForAll, #NigeriaSchools, #KeepSchoolsOpen, #OutOfSchoolCrisis, #LearningMatters