Kwara Govt Closes 10 Schools Over Hijab Crisis
AREWA AGENDA – Kwara State Government has said that the 10 grant sided public schools where the use of hijab is disputed will remain shut until further notice.
This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday night by Permanent Secretary, Kwara Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.
Kwara State Government had on February 20th ordered the immediate closure of some grant-aided schools in Ilorin pending the resolution of the controversy surrounding the use of Hijab in the affected schools.
The hijab controversy has triggered a face-off between the Muslims and Christians in grants aided schools in the state capital.
However, the state government on February 26th approved the use of Hijab by Muslim female students in its public schools after accepting a report of a committee set up to address the impasse.
Read Also:
Reacting to the development on Sunday, the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide in Kwara, rejected the use of hijab by female students at the Cherubim and Seraphim college in Ilorin, despite the directive of the state government.
The government statement said the decision for the schools to remain closed is taken for safety reasons.
It listed the schools to include C&S College Sabo Oke, ST. Anthony College, Offa Road, ECWA School, Oja Iya, Surulere Baptist Secondary School, Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam, CAC Secondary School Asa Dam road, St. Barnabas Secondary School Sabo Oke, St. John School Maraba, St. Williams Secondary School Taiwo Isale, and St. James Secondary School Maraba.
“The government, therefore, directs schoolchildren and teachers in the affected schools to remain at home until the contrary is announced. The government remains committed to fairness, pluralism, and respect for the law and rights of every citizen at all times,” the statement said.
