24 Christian schools closed in Nigeria

KANO, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Kano state government closed 24 Christian schools because of their refusal to provide Islamic religious studies as part of their curricula. An educational task force was set up by the state government to enforce the implementation of Islamic studies in line with Islamic law. Mohammed Tahir, chairman of the education task force, said more Chris­tian schools would be closed unless they adhere to the Islamic education policy, pay the required education taxes and employ Islamic clerics to teach Islam.

Joseph Fadipe, chairman of the Kano chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said the closures resulted from Christians resisting the government’s discriminatory religious policies that favor Muslims over Christians. Students and parents of the affected schools are already finding it difficult to cope with the situation, as the children no longer attend schools and parents fear for their future.