Kwara State Government has again shut 10 schools, where the use of hijab is disputed.
The Ministry of Education in the state announced this in a statement on Monday, citing safety reasons.
According to the Ministry’s permanent secretary, Kemi Adeosun, the schools earlier told to reopen on Monday, will remain shut.
“The Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development wishes to inform members of the public that the 10 government schools where the use of Hijab is disputed will remain shut until a later date.
“This decision has been taken for safety reasons,” the statement read in part.
According to the statement, the schools 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 added.
The government, in February , ordered the temporary closure of 10 grant-aided secondary schools in Ilorin, the state capital, pending the resolution of the controversy in the schools.
Muslim leaders had insisted that students should be allowed to use the head covering but their Christian counterparts said such negates the heritage of the missions, who built the schools.
However, after several peace meetings, the state government approved the use of hijab in all public schools in the state and ordered the reopening of the affected schools on March 8.
