School Resumption Delayed: States That Have Postponed Their Reopening Dates

School Resumption Delayed: States That Have Postponed Their Reopening Dates

Ahead of the anticipated start of the 2024/2025 academic year, some state governments in Nigeria, starting with Kano State, have announced a postponement of school resumption dates.

Schools across most parts of Nigeria were initially scheduled to resume on Monday, September 9.

The postponement was officially confirmed in Kano State by the Director of Public Enlightenment at the Ministry of Education, Balarabe Kiru, through a statement released last Saturday.

Kiru cited that the Kano State Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, will soon announce a new date for the resumption of schools.

He stated, “I wish to inform pupils, students, and parents that the previously scheduled resumption dates of September 8 and 9, 2024, have been postponed.

“This decision is based on urgent reasons aimed at enhancing the learning environment for our children. A new date for resumption will be communicated in due course.”

Unlike the situation in Kano State, the Edo State government mentioned the recent petrol price increase as the reason for its decision.

In its statement on Saturday, the Edo State Government said the increase in the price of petrol and the challenges faced by parents and guardians has caused tension in the state.

The government directed all schools in the state to remain closed.

The permanent secretary in the education ministry, Ojo Akin-Longe in a statement wrote, “The government urges parents, guardians and caregivers to monitor the activities of their children and wards closely, given the current situation and the rising tension caused by the fuel hike.”

In a related development, Abia State Government has postponed the resumption date for both public and private schools in the state for the 2024/2025 academic session.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this during a press briefing on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting in Umuahia, gave a coinciding Muslim holiday as a reason for the postponement.