Catholic Bishops kick against closure of schools for Ramadan
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has kicked against school closures for Ramadan, warning that it will worsen the school dropout crisis.
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The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria on Monday said the shutting down of schools by the governments of Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, and Kebbi States because of Ramadan would worsen the alarming crisis of Out-of-School Children and undermine efforts to improve education.
They called on the governors of the affected states to reconsider the decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens, they said the Federal Government should intervene and ensure that the rights of all Nigerians, regardless of their faith or background, are protected.
In a statement, CBCN said, “We, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, express deep concern over the recent declaration by some governors in northern Nigeria to close schools for five weeks during the Ramadan period.
This decision, which affects not only Muslim students but also Christian students and Christian-owned schools, raises serious questions about the secular nature of our country and the rights of all citizens.”
The CBCN quoted Section 10 of the Nigerian Constitution, which says that “The Government of the Federation or a State shall not adopt any religion as State Religion.”
They also quoted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 26) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Article 13) which emphasize the right to education as a fundamental human right and the closure of schools for an extended period undermines this right and jeopardizes the education and future of millions of Nigerian children.
“We are particularly concerned about the impact of this decision on the already alarming rate of out-of-school children in northern Nigeria.
According to UNESCO, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, with over 10 million children not attending school. This decision will only exacerbate this crisis and undermine efforts to improve education outcomes in the region.”
They concluded by saying that our leaders should prioritize the education and well-being of all Nigerian children, regardless of their faith or background, and work towards creating a more just and equitable society for all.
