Religious crisis might be brewing at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) International School, Ogbomoso, as no fewer than 55 female Muslim students of the school have been barred from entering the school premises over the use of Hijab.
A source in the school, who craved anonymity, said the 55 students were, on Monday morning, turned back by the institution’s authority for wearing hijab on top of their school uniforms.
According to the source, “Hijab Imbroglio: Welcome to LAUTECH Secondary School,Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The story dated back to 2011, when the first request was made to the Governing Board of the School to allow our willing Muslim females children to use hijab as part of their school uniform in line with Islamic dictate.
“Since 2011 barely eight years ago, several letters of appeal had been written to the GC while we waited endlessly without any concrete positive response to our simple request.
“Our Muslim girls over the period have been using beret instead of hijab in their own case contrary to the Islamic dictate.
“While our patience overtime as law-abiding citizens was premised on our belief that the management of the school would do the needful and give regard to the rule of law and provision of the Constitution guaranteeing fundamental human rights of everybody.
“Having waited endlessly since 2011, it was decided on the 4th of January, 2019 that our willing Muslim female children should commence the use of Hijab as School resumes on 7/1/2019.”
But while speaking with journalists on the matter, the Principal of the school, Mr. Ibrahim Animashaun, called on parents and students to await the decision of the school’s Board of Governors.
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According to him, the status quo remains until the Board comes out with its decision whether to allow or to ban the use of hijab in the school.
Animashaun said, “The school board of governors is yet to approve the use of Hijab. And the board is looking at their letter.
“So, we are yet to communicate with them. Until we communicate with them, the status quo remain until the Board approves their request.
“We spoke with the aggrieved parents that their letter is still with the board. LAUTECH International School board of governors is looking at their letter.”