Emerging report reaching on Monday, indicates that the government of Kwara State has again shutdown 10 Schools in the State, where the use of hijab by female Muslim Students is currently being disputed.
The Ministry of Education in Kwara State, announced this in a statement, citing safety reasons.
According to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Kemi Adeosun, the Schools earlier told to reopen on Monday, will remain shutdown until further notice.
She said: “The Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development wishes to inform members of the public, that the 10 Government Schools where the use of Hijab is disputed, will remain shut until a later date.
“This decision has been taken for safety reasons.”
According to the statement, the Schools include: C&S College Sabo Oke, ST. Anthony College, Offa Road, ECWA School, Oja Iya, Surulere Baptist Secondary School, Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam, CAC Secondary School Asa Dam road, St. Barnabas Secondary School Sabo Oke, St. John School Maraba, St. Williams Secondary School Taiwo Isale, and St. James Secondary School Maraba.
The statement added: “The government therefore, directs schoolchildren and Teachers in the affected Schools, to remain at home until the contrary is announced. The government remains committed to fairness, pluralism, and respect for the law and rights of every citizen at all times.”
Recall, that the government in February, ordered for the temporary closure of 10 grant-aided Secondary Schools in Ilorin, the State capital, pending the resolution of the controversy in the Schools.
Muslim Leaders in the State, had insisted that Students should be allowed to use the head covering, but their Christian counterparts said that such negates the heritage of the Missions who built the Schools.
However, after several peace meetings, the State Government approved the use of hijab in all Public Schools in the State, and ordered for the reopening of the affected Schools on March 8.
More news later…
