Khartoum state closes down schools for holy Ramadan

Oct 18, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — As Muslims enter the second week of the holy month of Ramadan, the ministry of education last week closed down schools in Khartoum and Gezira state.

The order for the closure of the schools warned that any school found functioning during the holy month of Ramadan will be forced to close down and the school administration will be fined 3 million Sudanese pounds.

Sudan Radio Service (SRS) correspondent in Khartoum quotes the Catholic Secretariat of education that runs 80 basic schools for internally displaced persons that the Catholic church has appealed to the ministry of education to allow its pupils in grade 8 and students in senior 3 who are preparing for their final examinations early next year to continue with their studies through the Ramadan holidays.

One of the secondary schools, Sheikh Lutfi in Gezira state, which accommodates 800 displaced students who are predominantly Christians, was forced to close down last Thursday.

(SRS/ST)