Bauchi Shuts Down Schools For Ramadan, Parents Lament

By Akinwale Kasali 

There is tension in Bauchi State following the shut- down of Primary and Secondary Schools in the State due to the forthcoming Ramadan.

Parents have lamented and frowned at the directive made by the Bauchi State Ministry of Education to keep children at home during the month of Ramadan.

The move has led to series of complaints by parents who queried the motive behind the one month break.

Several parents are worried for their children’s education while noting that most children will forget all they have been taught when they are faced with their exams after the break.

In an interview with Vanguard Newspaper, a parent, Ali Ayuba, whose child schools in the Rafin-Zurfi area of Bauchi metropolis, appealed to the State Government to consider making it optional for schools to adopt the policy or make all schools close early every day to make it all inclusive.

“I am really confused, seriously. I had hoped that before this kind of policy goes mainstream, parents’ would be carried along, because after all, we are the most affected by such policies.

“I thought that they would, at least, make it optional for schools to adopt the policy because it’s not in all parts of Bauchi that people are fasting. If they must make it a state-wide policy, why not reduce the hours spent in school so that the children can close early?” he queried.

Another parent who requested anonymity lamented that children will forget all they have learnt when they return to write their exams.

“Honestly, this will be counterproductive. How can you reconcile teaching children for 2 months and sending them on a one-month break, then asking them to write exams immediately after they return from the break? I can’t understand it.

“The state governor, who, in my opinion, has done very well in many other things, should look into this policy so that the system he has fought so hard to build will not collapse,” she appealed.