[Photo] LAUTECH international school shuts 55 students outside for appearing in hijab

About 55 female Muslim students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) International School Ogbomoso were on Monday prevented by authorities from entering the school premises over the use of Hijab.

A senior lecturer in the school, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the students were turned down by the institution’s authorities for wearing Hijab on their uniforms.

He said: “The story was 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 appeals had been written to the Governing Council, while we wait 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 will 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 January 7, 2019”.

According to the senior lecturer, the situation in the school on Monday morning was tensed as teachers forcefully removed hijab from the children and barred those who refused to abide from entering the school.

“The children in the school presently were under scrutiny, teachers are threatening. They are removing Hijab on them.

“The girls disagreed. They disallowed them to enter. It’s noisy presently. The school is still on.

“Our Muslim children that used Hijab are still outside the school,” he said.

The principal Ibrahim Animashaun urged the parents and the students to await the decision of the school board of governors before further action.

Animashaun informed newsmen the status quo remained until the board decides whether to allow or ban the use of Hijab in the school.

He 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 them. Until we communicate with them. The status quo remains 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”.