Bauchi State has ordered all educational institutions to close their doors for five weeks, allowing students to observe the 2025 Ramadan fast from the comfort of their homes. The lengthy closure, which kicks off March 1 and continues through April 5, wasn’t a last-minute decision but rather part of the state’s pre-approved academic calendar for 2024-2025, according to Ministry of Education officials.
“Yes, we are closing all our schools, and this is already part of our approved academic calendar,” confirmed Mr. Jalaludeen Maina, the ministry’s Information Officer, in a conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday.
“Our students will not be fasting while in school.”
The sweeping shutdown affects everything from public and private primary schools to junior and secondary institutions, and even extends to the state’s higher education facilities.
“The five-week holiday is for Ramadan fasting, and immediately after, they will resume and continue with their academics,” Maina explained, defending the extended break.
Not everyone is thrilled with the government’s approach, however. Some parents have voiced growing concerns about the potential impact on their children’s education, worried that such a long interruption could derail academic progress at a critical point in the school year.
Despite the mounting parental pushback, state authorities aren’t budging. They maintain that since the closure was planned and incorporated into the academic calendar from the start, educational institutions have had ample time to adjust their teaching schedules accordingly.
