The National Muslim Students Association of Liberia (NAMSAL) has raised concerns over what it describes as a holiday imbalance in the country’s academic calendar.
The current schedule mandates nationwide school closures during Christmas, but does not provide equal recognition for significant Islamic holidays, such as Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.
In a strong-worded press statement, NAMSAL condemned this as discrepancy, calling it a violation of Article 14 of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, which guarantees that no religious group should be given preferential treatment.
The association expressed frustration over the government’s failure to address this issue, despite numerous attempts to engage with key officials, including the Minister of Education and the President.
The president of NAMSAL, Abrahim M. Dorley, expressed that while the Muslim community respects the right of their Christian peers to observe their holidays, the ongoing neglect of Muslim students’ rights is unjust and unacceptable.
“The continued disregard for our religious holidays violates our fundamental rights and undermines the principles of equality enshrined in our Constitution,” Dorley stated.
As a result, NAMSAL has issued a stern warning: if the government does not take immediate action to amend the academic calendar, they will mobilize Islamic schools to remain open during the Christmas break as a peaceful act of civil disobedience.
They have pledged to organize volunteer instructors to teach Muslim students in public schools if no formal education is provided during this period.
Despite multiple attempts by NAMSAL to engage in dialogue with the government, the concerns have gone unanswered, according to the association’s statement.
NAMSAL emphasized that Liberia is founded on the principles of equality and the rule of law, and all religious groups, regardless of faith, must be treated fairly.
The group has called for urgent dialogue with the Ministry of Education to ensure the academic calendar is inclusive and respects the religious practices of all Liberians.
NAMSAL’s call for change has sparked discussions across Liberia about the need for an academic schedule that accommodates the diverse religious practices of its citizens.
The association has made it clear that unless the government addresses these concerns, it will continue to push for equal recognition of Islamic holidays in the national education system.
