Hijab in Osun schools

In compliance with a directive from the Osun State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Christian students of the Baptist High School, Adeeke in Owo town of Osun State went to school last week in church robes. They were protesting the wearing of hijab by female Muslim students. The same scenario occurred at the […]

In compliance with a directive from the Osun State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Christian students of the Baptist High School, Adeeke in Owo town of Osun State went to school last week in church robes. They were protesting the wearing of hijab by female Muslim students. The same scenario occurred at the Salvation Army Middle School, Alekuwodo, also in Osun State. Both are public schools run by the Osun State government even though they were originally missionary schools taken over by government in 1975.
The Osun State chapter of CAN had earlier directed Christian students in the state to wear church garments to school if the state government went ahead to implement a State High Court ruling which legalized the use of hijab by female Muslim students. The decision, according to CAN chairman in the state Elisha Ogundiya, was taken at an emergency meeting of CAN’s executive committee in Oshogbo. The High Court had ruled two weeks ago that female Muslim students should be allowed to wear hijab in all primary and secondary schools owned by the state government. The court, presided over by Justice Jide Falola, in a 51-page judgment held that any act of molestation, harassment, torture and humiliation against Muslim students using hijab constitutes an infringement on their fundamental right as contained in Section 38 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The Osun State Muslim community had on February 14, 2013 dragged the state government to court, seeking an order to allow female Muslim students to use hijab in public schools. The suit which was instituted against the state government also had the State Commissioner for Education and Attorney General as respondents. The state’s CAN chapter and its chairman voluntarily joined as respondents. The applicants, in a 44-paragraph affidavit told the court that female Muslim students wearing hijab to school were being harassed by the fourth and fifth respondents who insisted that beret and face-cap is the approved head cover for students in public schools.
In his judgment, Justice Falola said religion was introduced into the case when CAN joined in the suit. He said he went ahead to deliver the judgment after all pleas to settle the matter amicably failed. The state’s CAN chapter declared its intention to appeal against the judgment. It also urged the state government not to execute the judgment with a threat that if such was done, it would direct Christian students to attend school in church vestments, which it did. Governor Rauf Aregbesola however advised aggrieved parties to channel their grievances appropriately and not to result to self-help. He said at Ibokun that there are legal options open to any aggrieved party. CAN however accused Aregbesola of influencing the High Court ruling.
Use of hijab by female Muslim students in public schools in the North and South-West Nigeria is not new. Governments at various levels have over the years given female Muslim students the option of using a scarf that covers the head to the chest, in addition to the approved school uniform. This provision exists in all Federal Government Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs) as approved by the Federal Ministry of Education (FME). Use of hijab by female Muslim students also obtains in primary and secondary schools in many states of the federation including Sokoto, Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Kwara and Bauchi. Unfortunately, FME cannot issue directives in the Osun hijab controversy because this is a matter within state jurisdiction.
We call on Osun State’s CAN chapter to show understanding and tolerance in the amicable resolution of the matter. As men of God who should be models to young boys and girls, it was not proper for the leadership of CAN to have directed children still growing up as pupils and students to defy authorities and wear church gowns to school. We also advise politicians to shun the manipulation of religion in order to achieve selfish personal goals.