Bauchi State to Close Schools for Five Weeks During Ramadan

In preparation for the 2025 Ramadan fast, the Bauchi State government has announced a five-week school closure for all public and private educational institutions.

From March 1 to April 5, 2025, elementary, junior, secondary, and postsecondary institutions across the state will remain closed. The decision was included in the state's approved 2024–2025 academic calendar.

Mr. Jalaludeen Maina, the Ministry of Education's Information Officer, confirmed the announcement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

“Yes, we are closing all our schools, and this is included in our 2024-2025 approved calendar for the academic session, so our students are not going to do the Ramadan fasting while in school,” Maina stated.

He added that students will resume immediately after the fasting period to continue their academics.

The decision has sparked concerns among some parents, who worry about its impact on students' academic progress.

Mrs. Sunita Joseph questioned the length of the break, stating, "Why would the Ramadan break be this long? The children may have even started forgetting what they had learned before the break."

Similarly, Ismail Raji urged the government to reconsider the policy, warning that it could worsen the state's already high number of out-of-school children.

Mohammed Isa, another concerned parent, also reminded the government that Bauchi already has one of the highest percentages of out-of-school children in Nigeria.