Bauchi State recently announced that it had scheduled a term break in alignment with the commencement of Ramadan. This has prompted discussions about the role of religious observances in academic planning.
The state’s Ministry of Education recently released the 2024/2025 academic calendar, outlining key dates for the second and third terms.
According to the schedule, the second term began on January 6, 2025. It was set to run for 11 weeks, with a mid-term break from 1 March to 5 March, extending until April 6, when academic activities are expected to resume.
In the document signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Fatima Musa, the “Approved School Calendar” clearly states that the holiday will begin on March 1 and end on April 5. This amounts to a five-week break.
The timing of the break coincides with the start of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, leading to speculation about an extended school closure for religious reasons.
The decision taken by the state has sparked reactions from various quarters, with concerns raised over the implications of prolonged school closures on academic performance.
However, the Bauchi State Ministry of Education maintains that the changes in the academic schedule are part of a structured approach to balancing education with religious and cultural observances.
Critics argue that such scheduling prioritises religious observances over education, potentially affecting students in the long run.
Abiodun, a social media user, lamented what he described as an imbalance in governance, stating, “A state government has closed down all schools for the next month because of Ramadan. This country isn’t designed to make it.”
Others, however, defended the move, asserting that the adjustment aligns with the curriculum’s structure.
A National Youth Service Corps member, Khaleef Aniwura, currently serving in Bauchi, who shared the state-approved calendar, explained, “As a corper here in Bauchi State, the holiday is according to the school curriculum. We have already finished the curriculum for academic activities for the second term. The school will resume in April to continue all other activities and the third term.”
The debate over the calendar has also reignited discussions on the role of religion in governance, particularly in the education sector. Some have questioned whether similar considerations would be given to non-Muslim religious observances.
Another X user identified as TheGrinch commented, “Brother, it has always been alleged that it [Sharia law] isn’t for non-Muslims, so how come non-Muslim alcoholic drink traders are having their goods destroyed in the North? Or will Sharia in the North be different from the one in the South? Call a spade a spade, please.”
Following Grinch’s comment, the Internet, particularly the microblogging site X, was set ablaze, with numerous comments criticising the Bauchi government’s stance on school closures for Ramadan.
