Following the government’s pronouncement of reopening of the 10 affected schools in Ilorin on Wednesday, March 17, a section of Christians have forcefully blocked the entrance to one of the schools, Surulere Baptist Secondary School, Ilorin, preventing Muslim pupils from entering the school premises.
There is also a report of similar resistance at C&S College, Sabo Oke, Ilorin by some Christians who insisted that no student with Hijab would be allowed to use Hijab in their schools.
The church members reportedly dressed in white sultana and caps, laid siege to the school gate and prevented Muslim pupils from entering, hours after Kwara government announced the school reopening.
Speaking on the development, Mr. Michael Oyepo, PTA chairman of the school, insisted that they will not allow students in Hijab in flagrant disregard of the government position upholding the right to use the head covering.
Recall that the 10 affected schools in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, were earlier shut following steps taken by these same persons barring Muslim students using Hijab in the schools.
Muslim News correspondent at the protest ground in Surulere area of Ilorin on Wednesday saw the Christian demonstrators dancing as they displayed placards with different inscriptions such as ‘No Hijab in Baptist Schools and all mission/grant-aided schools’, ‘Otoge, give us back our schools, among others.
But contrary to their demands, the State government had earlier stated unequivocally that there are no mission schools in Kwara State.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye said in an interview with TVC that the Kwara State education law recognises only two categories of schools, namely, public and private schools, adding that, “We do not have schools that are categorised as missionary schools in Kwara.”
As at the time of filing this report by 8:59am, Muslim News also gathered that St. Anthony Secondary School, Offa Road remained under lock and key, with few teachers and students awaiting the reopening of the school.
Meanwhile, security agents have swung into action, taking steps to disperse the protesters and put the situation under control.
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This is wrong on all fronts. To every organization, there are guiding rules, if hijab isn’t part of the schools uniforms, forcing it on the schools mean you are breaking the law which the prophet frowns at or you are oppressing the school’s management.
Take for instance, if a Christian girl is enrolled in an Islamic school and she refuse to wear hijab because it is not part of her faith, how will the Muslims feel? Remove your hijab or leave the school. Anything outside this is tantamount to provoking crises.
Organizational rules or law doesn’t come into play in this matter. The schools are government’s not missionary’s. The nomenclatures are just honourary to recognize the founder. However, after government take over, all rules binding on public schools are equally binding on them.
It’s only a real muslim that understand why a muslim girl cannot go out without her HIJAB.
What power or incompatibility feature does schooling have to be anti-hijab ?
If education is life , students’ physical and spiritual well-being must be considered.
Note that Christmas Carol is not part of school rule but christains have it in schools and offices.
Don’t post this type of post again.Check your understanding of Islam.
These schools have been taken over by the government ,I don’t see the fuss CAN is making over the issue,how does the use of hijab affect them , Christians are not forced to use the hijab.