Christian leaders in Kwara State have rejected the directive by the state government to all public schools to allow the use of Hijab as 10 schools shut over the controversy reopen on Monday.
Recall that the state government had ordered the temporary closure of 10 grant-aided secondary schools in Ilorin, the state capital, pending the resolution of the controversy in the schools, which were established by Christian missions.
The schools are Cherubim and Seraphim College, St. Anthony College, ECWA School, Surulere Baptist Secondary School, Bishop Smith Secondary School, CAC Secondary School, St. Barnabas Secondary School, St. John School, St. Williams Secondary School and St. James Secondary School.
While Muslim leaders insisted that students should be allowed to use the head covering in accordance with the Constitution, their Christian counterparts demanded respect for the background of the schools that were established by churches or Christian missionaries.
However, on Thursday evening, the state government approved the use of Hijab in all public schools in the state.
Reacting to the government’s statement, however, the proprietors of the affected schools rejected the decision of the government.
In a communique read by Victor Dada, a reverend, the group “condemns the use of hijab in Christian missions grant-aided schools as this will cause discrimination in schools and allow terrorists to easily identify our children and wards.
“Christian mission grant-aided schools should be returned to the owners promptly as most of these schools have churches besides them and unnecessary trespass may lead to break down of law and order.
“Christian faithful should occupy all grant-aided schools. Christians should have a day for prayers and fasting for God to intervene in the imbroglio.
“We shall continue to interact and dialogue with the state government on the return of grant-aided schools to the proprietors,” Mr Dada said on Saturday.
