Hijab controversy: Again, Kwara State Govt Reopens Missionary Schools, Lockout Teachers
- The hijab controversy in Kwara state which has been a trending topic in the last few days seems to be far from over
- The Kwara state government seems hell-bent on reopening the missionary schools that have been the subject of the controversy
- Emerging details from the state indicates that some teachers were locked out while some of the schools were reopened
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The Kwara government has opened the 10 schools at the centre of the controversy over the use of the hijab in the state.
Channels Television, however, reports that some churches have refused to reopen the schools.
According to the report, in one of the schools, a load of sand was seen in front of the gate to prevent both teachers and pupils from gaining entrance.
Security operatives later intervened and forced opened gates of schools locked.
The state government had earlier on Thursday, March 18 directed principals, teachers, and staff of the schools to reopen.
Source: Twitter
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The government explained that the resumption became necessary in order to prepare the final year students for their external examinations.
The government warned that any staff that fails to report to duty will face the full wrath of the law as it will not condone any act of insubordination.
Meanwhile, Daily Nigerian reports that the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has accused the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, of fueling crisis in the state.
MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola, in a statement on Thursday, March 18, stated that CAN should be held responsible for any crisis in the schools and the state as a whole.
Legit.ng had earlier reported that violence erupted on Wednesday, March 17 in Ilorin after the Kwara state government reopened 10 schools shut last month over the controversy.
The violence started after Christian officials of Baptist School, Surulere disallowed girls in hijab from gaining access into the school.
The action did not go down well with Muslim parents, leading to arguments and eventual clash, with both sides throwing various objects including stones and plastic chairs at themselves.
The security operatives close to the school had to call for reinforcement to calm the situation and dispersed the warring factions with tear gas.
Meanwhile, the decision to reopen the schools was earlier rejected by the Kwara Baptist Conference which opined that the governor of the state was following the wrong advice.
Kicking against the government's move, the president of the conference, Reverend Victor Dada, claimed that the governor even acted in contempt of the court because the case is still pending.
Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Source: Legit.ng
