Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan
Refusal of management of International School, University of Ibadan, to allow female Muslim students wear hijab, Monday took another dimension as academic activities were paralyzed in the school with classrooms under lock and key.
It was learnt that the decision to stop academic activities was sequel to the appearance of some students wearing hijab against what the management described as the school’s dress code.
It would be recalled that some parents under the aegis of International School Muslim Parents’ Forum in a letter of November 9, 2018 signed by Abdurrhaman Balogun (Chairman) and Bilikis Badiru (Secretary), and sent to the Principal of the school, Mrs Phebean Olowe and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Mr. Abideen Aderinto, had put the school management on notice of the resolution on the rights of the female children to commence the use of Hijab from this academic session of 2018/2019.
According to the forum, Hijab wearing for young Muslim girls, apart from the fact that it is part of their religious belief, is part of their God-given fundamental human right as well as constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, both school assembly and classes were cancelled when Hijab wearing students were sighted by the school authorities.
Reacting to the development, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Mr Adeyinka Aderinto, who also doubles as Chairman, Board of Governors of the school, said “the jungle approach being used by the parents would not be tolerated.”
Aderinto who said the school is a private school and not run with any money from government, stated that the school has rules governing dress codes which all parents agreed to.
He explained that while he received the letter on November 9, he held a meeting with the forum on Saturday for more than two hours adding that he was shocked and disappointed that the parents could be frustrating efforts of the management at restoring the glory of the school.
He said, “I am the Chairman of the court of Governors and I am a proud Muslim. ISI is a private school. UI does not fund it. It is funded by the fees collected. It is unfortunate that this is coming up now. Even the Parents Teacher Association is not aware of the idea by this group. Indeed some other Muslim parents expressed shock when they heard about this forum. Since its establishment in 1963, the school has not experienced any religious crisis and we would want to guard against it.
"Muslim and Christian students have a place to worship in the school. Whoever is desired to change the rules should go through the process. The teachers do not feel safe and so could not have taught anybody because it is a strange development. I appeal to these people to stop their action and allow peace to reign in the school. It is even strange that this matter was not discussed at the Parents Teachers Association at all headed by another Muslim and lawyer Mr Kazeem Olaniyan”
However Balogun who spoke for the forum, expressed surprise that the school was shut down because of female students putting on hijab in line with their constitutional rights, maintaining that the forum will continue to forge ahead with its agitation until their daughters are allowed to wear hijab.