The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the decision by some Northern state governments to shut down schools for the Ramadan period, warning that if the policy is not reversed, students will take to the streets in protest.
In a statement issued on Sunday, NANS described the school closures as an unfair disruption to academic activities, arguing that religion should not interfere with the right to continuous education. The student body insisted that rather than shutting down schools, state governments should adopt more flexible academic schedules that allow Muslim students to observe their religious obligations while continuing their studies.
Several states, particularly in the North, have announced school closures during Ramadan, citing the need for students to focus on religious activities. However, NANS argues that such a policy could negatively impact learning outcomes, especially with the already disrupted academic calendar caused by previous strikes and public holidays.
NANS called on the affected state governments to reconsider the decision and warned that failure to do so would lead to mass demonstrations across the country.