controversy after the school closing during Ramadan in the north of the country

Four Muslim predominantly states in northern Nigeria have ordered school closure during Ramadan, the month of sacred fasting in Islam, arousing the indignation of Christians and teaching unions.

This unusual decision taken by the authorities of the states of Kano, Katsina, Bauchi and Kebbi led to the closure of primary and secondary schools last week, to allow students to pass Ramadan at home, thus disturbing the academic calendar.

The closure of schools has aroused strong criticism from the National Association of Nigerian Students (Nans) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) which threatened to bring legal action against the governments of the four states.

Nans said “Vehemented with the recent directive of the governors of the States of Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi to close schools during the sacred month of Ramadan” In a press release published on Monday.

The association said it was ready to organize demonstrations nationwide if the four states do not cancel the school closure within 72 hours.

“Discrimination”, according to the Nans

The decision “Shapes the academic progress of students, disrupts their learning and unjustly targets non-Muslim students, subjecting them to undue discrimination”said the Nans.

“The education of our children and the unity of our states are at stake. If these rights are still threatened or if the dialogue does not lead, the CAN is ready to resort to justice”said Daniel Okoh, president of the CAN, in a statement released on Sunday.

In a statement published Thursday, Amicinu Usman, head of the Islamic police of Kano, the Hisbah, asked private schools to comply with the order, declaring that no breach will be “Tolerated”.

Two days before, the Kano Ministry of Education ordered all public schools to close on February 28 and to reopen on April 7 to finish the quarter.

The opposition of the CAN at the closure of schools during Ramadan highlights the underlying religious tensions in the most populous country in Africa, which has 220 million inhabitants, mainly Muslim in the North, and Christian in the South.

The four states concerned did not react to the controversy aroused by the closure of schools.