The Kwara State Government has directed the 10 schools that were recently shut down over the hijab question to reopen on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Mary Kemi Adeosun.
According to her, the government’s peacebuilding efforts shall continue.
The statement added that the government is convinced that its policy to allow willing Muslim schoolgirls to wear their hijab in public schools will lead to sustainable peace and communal harmony anchored on mutual respect and understanding.
The statement stated that this path to mutual respect, understanding, and peace with regards to hijaab had long been adopted in all of northern Nigeria and many states in the Southwest such as Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, and Oyo States.
“As the students resume normal classes, the government took special notice of the plight of those of them preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and hereby directs affected schools to hold at least two-hour extra lesson for all the intending candidates after school hours daily. The government will provide light lunch for the students until the beginning of their exams while teachers allotted for the extra coaching will get stipends for their efforts” the statement explained further.”
According to the Permanent Secretary, this is to bring the students up to speed ahead of the impending external examination and stressed that the closure of the schools was necessary to forestall security breaches that may affect lives and properties.
The government, however, commended the Christian and Muslim leaders for their understandings and their efforts to build peace within their respective communities in the past weeks and therefore urged everyone to join hands with the government to raise a generation of schoolchildren who will respect one another’s differences and together build a sustainable future for our state.
The government also reminded all its employees such as school principals and teachers in the affected schools to take special note of the policy warning that there will be zero tolerance for violations of anyone’s fundamental human rights under their watch.
When Voice of Nigeria visited some of the affected schools, the gates leading to the entrance were still under lock and key while some of the students and even the parents and guardians that accompany their children and wards were denied entry despite the government’s directive that such schools should resume classes today, Wednesday.
But it was a different story at ECWA primary and secondary schools, Oja Iya as students and teachers were seen in their classes while students wishing to wear hijaabs were not denied or molested.
Security operatives were, however, stationed at the gates of the school to forestall any crisis or break down of law and order as some people were seen in a peaceful protest against wearing of hijab in granted schools.
It would be recalled that the affected schools were closed down about two weeks ago.
PIAK
