Kano boarding students recount first Sallah ever in school

Hafsat Isma’ila is a final year boarding student of a secondary school in Kano. She is presently writing her NECO examination and so, had to remain in school during the last eid-el-kabir celebration.

This is the first time in her life she would celebrate sallah outside her home, in company of family, friends and relatives. But she describes this sallah celebration as one of the best experiences she’s ever had in life.

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“We ate plenty meat and danced as if there was no tomorrow. We had enough food and drinks. A whole cow was slaughtered for us and we were allowed to fry the meat by ourselves.

“Indeed, it was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life which I will forever cherish,” she revealed.

Another student Safina Othman was glad there was no Sallah durbar because that was what she would have missed the most while celebrating Sallah in school.

“Since durbar did not hold, I don’t think I missed anything. This is an experience I would love to share with my family and friends; it is indeed an experience worth sharing.

“In fact, I got more meat than I would have gotten at home and I had fun with my classmates,” said Safina.

Similarly, many parents applauded the state government’s decision to allow the students spend their Sallah cerebration in school.

They praised the government for making the celebration worth the while for the students by providing food and drinks, and a conducive atmosphere for them to celebrate sallah away from their families.

According to Malam Abubakar Salisu, father of one of the students writing this year’s NECO examination, the state government’s decision was the best for the students since the Sallah break was just a week and it would have been very inconveniencing for the students to travel back home for the festivity.

“The Sallah break is just one week and I am sure the state government made adequate arrangement for the students to have a worthwhile Sallah celebration in the school.

“I spoke with my daughter on Sallah day and she told me what she missed was only the Eid prayer, but she told me the school slaughtered a cow for them,” said the father.

Another parent, Malam Musa Nura, said he has no reason to complain over his daughter spending Sallah in school.

According to him, spending Sallah in school during such a critical time in her academic journey is for the best. He explained that as a parent, he had always wanted his daughter to do well in school. and it is just one Sallah, meanwhile she stands to a chance to witness several more.

“This is a time for these students to concentrate and do well as it is one of the critical moments in their academic life. I am sure they were well taken care of by the state government so, I have no reason to complain.

“This is just one sallah. After school, she has the chance of witnessing and celebrating several more,” he said.

The Kano State government had directed all boarding students to remain in school during this year’s Sallah celebrations due to the ongoing National Examination Council (NECO) examinations. Many parents welcomed the state government’s directives while some viewed it with mixed feelings.

The Kano State government had earlier sacked a principal of a secondary school in the state who failed to retain the 300 students writing NECO examinations in his school.

The sacked principal was said to have released all the students and also travelled to his hometown, possibly for Sallah break, without informing the ministry.

However, there was a directive mandating the students writing NECO examinations to remain in school as the state government had made arrangement for their stay and Sallah celebration in school.

The state’s commissioner for education Muhammad Kiru, revealed that the state government had made adequate and special feeding arrangements which include the purchase of 19 cows for the 25 boarding schools across the state.

He added that the directive was for each school with at least 300 students to have a cow each while those with less students would be merged for one cow. The commissioner also revealed that provision for special food has been made for the students to feel at home during their stay in school.

He said, the state government acquired 19 cows for the 25 schools and also made special arrangement for the students to have a worthwhile Sallah celebration while in school”.