There was confusion at Baptist
High School, Iwo, Osun State on
Tuesday as some pupils shunned
their uniforms and wore choir
gowns, white garments, Islamic
apparel and other unconventional
dresses to the school.
Although no group or individual
could be identified as the
mastermind of the bizarre dress
code by the pupils, there were,
however, conflicting reasons for
the behaviour.
While some people said the
unconventional dresses were a
way of registering dislike for the
same uniform introduced by the
government for all schools in the
state, others said some Christians
who were opposed to wearing of
hijab in schools founded by
Christian missionaries
orchestrated the drama.
The suit instituted on the issue of
hijab wearing to school is still
pending before an Osun State
High Court.
But Tuesday confusion reportedly
became more pronounced at the
assembly ground as the pupils
could not listen to their teachers
because they were busy lining up
themselves along religious lines.
A female pupil, who was dressed
in a purple gown usually worn by
the choir in the Baptist church,
was said to have led Christian
students in gospel praises, while
her Muslim counterpart dressed in
hijab was seen hollering “Allau
Akbar ” and singing praises to
Allah from the same platform
simultaneously.
It was learnt that although many
other pupils appeared in the
government-approved uniform, a
few ones who are neither
Christians nor Muslims wore
clothes with the insignia of their
religious beliefs, making the
atmosphere in the school chaotic.
The confusion was said to have
continued in the classrooms as
pupils sang discordant tunes. The
confusion, it was gathered, started
on Monday and continued on
Tuesday morning.
The teachers were said to be
helpless in controlling the pupils
due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The Principal of the school,
identified simply as Mr. Arowolo,
told PUNCH Metro that that the
issue had been reported to the
appropriate authorities for action.
The state Commissioner for
Information, Mr. Sunday Akere,
said the government had been
informed of the development and
had sent officials of the Ministry
of Education to the school on a
fact-finding mission.
The Christian Association of
Nigeria in the state had protested
against the wearing of hijab to
schools founded by Christians,
describing it as an attempt to wipe
away the heritage bequeathed to
them by the early missionaries.
But the Joint Muslim Action
Forum, which is an umbrella body
of all Islamic groups in the state,
issued a statement, condemning
the protest.
The statement was issued by the
JOMAF Coordinator, Alhaji Kola
Uzamat and Secretary, Mr. Qaasim
Odedeji.
The group described the
prevention of hijab-wearing
students from Christian schools
as an act of religious intolerance
which would not be allowed in the
state.
The group accused Christians of
attempting to sabotage Governor
Rauf Aregbesola’s policy which it
said was introduced to address
the decay in the education sector
in the state. http://ift.tt/1bsCBhi
×××In the light of this development, to forestall further confusion, I think it is high time Osun legislate on scrapping of school uniform, then pupils can wear whatever they like to school without fear of harassments.××× Please drop your comments below...
High School, Iwo, Osun State on
Tuesday as some pupils shunned
their uniforms and wore choir
gowns, white garments, Islamic
apparel and other unconventional
dresses to the school.
Although no group or individual
could be identified as the
mastermind of the bizarre dress
code by the pupils, there were,
however, conflicting reasons for
the behaviour.
While some people said the
unconventional dresses were a
way of registering dislike for the
same uniform introduced by the
government for all schools in the
state, others said some Christians
who were opposed to wearing of
hijab in schools founded by
Christian missionaries
orchestrated the drama.
The suit instituted on the issue of
hijab wearing to school is still
pending before an Osun State
High Court.
But Tuesday confusion reportedly
became more pronounced at the
assembly ground as the pupils
could not listen to their teachers
because they were busy lining up
themselves along religious lines.
A female pupil, who was dressed
in a purple gown usually worn by
the choir in the Baptist church,
was said to have led Christian
students in gospel praises, while
her Muslim counterpart dressed in
hijab was seen hollering “Allau
Akbar ” and singing praises to
Allah from the same platform
simultaneously.
It was learnt that although many
other pupils appeared in the
government-approved uniform, a
few ones who are neither
Christians nor Muslims wore
clothes with the insignia of their
religious beliefs, making the
atmosphere in the school chaotic.
The confusion was said to have
continued in the classrooms as
pupils sang discordant tunes. The
confusion, it was gathered, started
on Monday and continued on
Tuesday morning.
The teachers were said to be
helpless in controlling the pupils
due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The Principal of the school,
identified simply as Mr. Arowolo,
told PUNCH Metro that that the
issue had been reported to the
appropriate authorities for action.
The state Commissioner for
Information, Mr. Sunday Akere,
said the government had been
informed of the development and
had sent officials of the Ministry
of Education to the school on a
fact-finding mission.
The Christian Association of
Nigeria in the state had protested
against the wearing of hijab to
schools founded by Christians,
describing it as an attempt to wipe
away the heritage bequeathed to
them by the early missionaries.
But the Joint Muslim Action
Forum, which is an umbrella body
of all Islamic groups in the state,
issued a statement, condemning
the protest.
The statement was issued by the
JOMAF Coordinator, Alhaji Kola
Uzamat and Secretary, Mr. Qaasim
Odedeji.
The group described the
prevention of hijab-wearing
students from Christian schools
as an act of religious intolerance
which would not be allowed in the
state.
The group accused Christians of
attempting to sabotage Governor
Rauf Aregbesola’s policy which it
said was introduced to address
the decay in the education sector
in the state. http://ift.tt/1bsCBhi
×××In the light of this development, to forestall further confusion, I think it is high time Osun legislate on scrapping of school uniform, then pupils can wear whatever they like to school without fear of harassments.××× Please drop your comments below...
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