While Northern Nigeria is striving to catch up educationally, some of our officials, it appears, are bent on keeping us perpetually on the same spot through destruction of a whole term due to an ibadah which very essence and excellent intention is to make Muslims stronger, steadfast and more knowledgeable.

Is Ramadan a holiday season or a period for heightened ibadah? Are kindergarten and primary school pupils also obligated to fast to warrant shutting them out of school? Why are we making it look as if fasting forbids other legitimate activities? Do people need holidays to fast? Are these officials aware of the years pupils and students lost to COVID-19, teachers, NLC and ASUU strikes? This forced vacation is not Islamic at all. Fasting while schooling was what we all did and was what all the current governors did during their time in school.  This undue and unwarranted imposition of compulsory holiday is sheer populism that does not augur well for our educationally deprived society!

Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, leaders of thought and well-meaning individuals in the North should call on these governors to rescind their decisions and allow schooling to continue in Ramadan.

Ibrahim Ismaila Ahmed wrote from Abuja