Fact-Check: Does Saudi Arabia Keep Schools Open During Ramadan?
Claim: Recent claims online suggest that Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, keeps its schools open during the holy month of Ramadan.
This follows a statement by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad that there is no justification for shutting down schools in the North during Ramadan. She allegedly argued that even Saudi Arabia, where Islam originated, does not close its schools for the fasting period.
The text accompanying the news story reads in parts: “Saudi children in class during Ramadan; Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi governors should reopen schools: FG…
“There is no religious basis for shutting down schools during Ramadan. Even in countries like Saudi Arabia, which are recognised as Muslim nations, educational institutions continue to function normally during this period,”
These claims have sparked widespread reactions from various religious groups, leading to diverse opinions on the matter.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, and reflection.
Verification: To verify the authenticity of these claims, PRNigeria’s fact-checking team conducted a keyword search and found that some Nigerian media outlets widely reported the Minister in the early hours of Friday.
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One of such online media platforms states, “Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad has slammed the administration of four states of Bauchi, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kano for shutting down state-owned schools during the Ramadan fasting period….”
Similarly, another online media quoted the Minister with the following caption “Islam does not mandate closure of schools during fasting..”
However, a reverse image search of the photo of Saudi children in school accompanying the report revealed that it actually originated in April 2022, when the Saudi Ministry of Education allowed Women to teach young boys for the first time in Saudi public schools.
Further findings also revealed that in the same year, April 2022, Saudi Ministry of Education’s at one time decided to keep schools open during Ramadan fasting after a video footage of a school boy surfaced asking the Education Minister to put school on hold during Ramadan fasting.
The decision triggered debate among Saudi Arabia’s public regarding its appropriateness.
Furthermore, PRNigeria fact-check team also reached out to the Press Attache at the Saudi Arabia embassy in Abuja who confirmed to us that indeed Saudi’s schools remain open, even during the ongoing Ramadan Fasting.
Conclusion: Findings by PRNigeria revealed that the accompanying image used to represent the report of Saudi children in school during the month of Ramadan originated three years ago, particularly in April 2022. However, it is confirmed that Saudi children still attend school even during the holy month as confirmed by the Press Attaché at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Abuja, Mohammed Al-Sahabi.
Verdict:
PRNigeria therefore concludes that the claim that Saudi children are kept in school even during the ongoing Ramadan fasting is TRUE.
By PRNigeria
