The Bauchi State Ministry of Education has directed all schools in the state to close in preparation for the five-week Ramadan fast in 2025.
The announcement is part of the state’s authorized school calendar for the academic year 2024-2025.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Bauchi on Friday, the Ministry of Education’s Information Officer, Mr. Jalaludeen Maina, stated that the vacation had long been included in the calendar.
He explained that the closure would be effective from March 1 until April 5.
According to Maina, the shutdown affected all educational institutions in the state, including public and private elementary, junior, and secondary, as well as higher education institutions.
“Yes, we are closing all our schools, and this is included in our 2024-2025 approved calendars for the academic session that our students are not going to do the Ramadan fasting while in school.
“The five-week holiday is for Ramadan fasting, and immediately after the fasting, they will resume and continue with their academics,” he said.
Meanwhile, several parents in the state have expressed concern that the development may have a negative impact on their children’s education.
Mrs. Sunita Joseph, who expressed her dissatisfaction with the development, emphasized that the time frame was too long.
“Why would the Ramadan break be too long like this? The children may have even started forgetting what they had learned before the break,” she said.
Ismail Raji urged the state administration to reconsider the decision, warning that it could foster out-of-school children syndrome.
Mohammed Isa, who disapproved of the situation, reminded the state authorities that the state has one of the highest percentages of out-of-school children.
He suggested that the government develop projects and programs to encourage parents to send their children to school.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
