The dispute between the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the decision to close schools during Ramadan has drawn the attention of experts in both Islamic and Western education.
At first, CAN opposed the action, claiming that closing schools would interfere with the northern states’ academic calendar. These worries, however, were rejected by Dr. Asiya Aliyu Ibrahim, an education specialist and the dean of the Federal College of Education Kano’s faculty of education.
She claimed in an interview that since the government has specialists who provide advice on such topics, academic achievement will not be impacted by schools closing for Ramadan.
“Learning will not be disrupted in any manner by closing schools during Ramadan. Decisions about education at all levels are guided by specialists, therefore the government is not acting arbitrarily. “Schools are not closed at random,” she clarified.
Students would be given the chance to catch up later, Dr. Asiya added.
When students in other states take a break after Ramadan, those who took an earlier holiday will continue their education. In the end, it balances out,” she continued.
The ruling was also supported by Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, the chairman of the Kano State Council of Ulama and a well-known Islamic expert. He commended northern governors for their vision, emphasizing the difficulties faced by teachers and pupils during fasting because of the intense heat and hunger.
“These governors should be commended for their astute judgment in reaching this conclusion. When teachers go on strike, schools are occasionally closed for months, but the public doesn’t respond thus fiercely. However, this conclusion is grounded in a valid concern. I don’t see anything wrong with that, and I even commend them for their vision,” Sheikh Khalil said.
The ruling is still debatable among those involved in education in spite of these defenses.
Suwaiba Ahmad, the state minister of education, encouraged the states of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Bauchi to change their minds.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, Ahmad maintained that no nation with a majority of Muslims engages in this kind of behavior.
“Schools are still open during Ramadan, even in nations where Islam is the predominant religion. It is regular procedure,” she underlined.
A contentious dispute between the Christian group and MURIC, which supports Muslim rights, had previously arisen after CAN threatened to sue the states that carried out the closures.