National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Ekpenyong Emmanuel
The recent decision by some northern states to close schools for the observance of Ramadan has sparked widespread outrage.
However, Ishaya Inuwa Durkwa, executive director of Peace Building and Social Justice (PSJ), a non-governmental organization, believes that the outrage is not driven by a genuine concern for children’s education.
According to Durkwa, the real issue is not the closure of schools, but rather the perception that one religion is asserting dominance over others.
He argues that the outrage is fueled by deeper fears of religious superiority and marginalization.
Durkwa questions why the same level of outrage is not expressed over more pressing issues in the education sector, such as the poor state of schools, outdated curriculums, examination malpractices, and sex for marks.
He wonders why the public is not protesting against corruption, failed institutions, or the dire state of the economy.
“The argument should be that education should be a priority, and school closures set us back,” Durkwa said.
“But I suspect the real anger over school closures isn’t about education at all. It is about perception—about the feeling that one religion is asserting dominance over others.”
Durkwa’s comments highlight the need for a more nuanced discussion about the issues facing the education sector in Nigeria.
Rather than focusing solely on the closure of schools during Ramadan, the public should be concerned about the broader challenges that affect the quality of education in the country.
