The crisis rocking University of Ibadan International School over the use of Hijab by female Muslim students of the secondary school has extended to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) International School, Ogbomoso as no fewer than fifty five (55) female Muslim students have been barred from entering the school premises over the use of Hijab.
A senior lecturer in the school who claimed anonymity disclosed that the 55 students were turned down by the institution’s authority for wearing Hijab on top of their uniforms Monday morning.
According to him, “Hijab Imbroglio: Welcome to LAUTECH Secondary School, Ogbomoso, Oyo state. The story was dated back to 2011, when the first request was made to the Governing Board of the School to allow our willing Muslim females Children to use Hijab as part of their school uniform in line with Islamic dictate.
“Since 2011 barely eight years ago, several letters of appeal had been written to the GC while we wait endlessly without any concrete positive response to our simple request.
“Our Muslim girls over the period have been using Beret instead of Hijab in their own case contrary to the Islamic dictate.
“While our patience overtime as law abiding citizens was premised on our belief that the Management of the School will do the needful and give regard to the rule of law & provision of the Constitution guaranteeing fundamental human right of everybody.
“Having wait endlessly since 2011, it was decided on the 4th of January, 2019 that our willing Muslim female children should commence the use of Hijab as School resumes on 7/1/2019”.
When asked for an update of what was going on in the school, the senior lecturer said, “The teachers in the school are presently threatening the children. They are removing Hijab on them. The girls disagreed. They disallowed them to enter. It’s noise presently. The school is still on. Our Muslim children that used Hijab are still outside the school”.
However, Principal of the school, Mr. Ibrahim Animashaun while reacting urged the parents and the students to await the decision of the school board of governors before further action.
Animashaun informed Journalists that the status quo remain until the board come our with its decision whether to allow or to ban the use of Hijab in the school.
In a telephone conversation he said, “The school board of governors is yet to approve the use of Hijab. And the board is looking at their letter. So we are yet to communicate them. Until we communicate with them. The status quo remain until the board approve their request.
“We spoke with the aggrieved parents that their letter is still with the board. LAUTECH International School board of governors is looking at their letter”.
Editor, South-West,
Lagos Post Online
Email: raji_adebayong@yahoo.com
M: 08034094059
