Muslim Parents’ Forum (MPF) of the International School, University of Ibadan and the Muslim community in Oyo state on Wednesday urged the federal government and the National Assembly to intervene in the crisis rocking the school on wearing of Hijab.
The Secretary General, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Sheik Ismail Busari, made the call while addressing newsmen in Ibadan alongside the MPF chairman of the International School, Abdulrahman Balogun.
He said there was a need for the Federal Government, National Assembly, the state government and the authority of the University of Ibadan to intervene in the matter to avoid escalating the issue.
Busari who noted that wearing of Hijab by female Muslim students is a God-given right which is enshrined in the constitution however warned that “Muslims will not allow anyone to tamper with their right unchallenged”.
“We are calling on government, those in positions of authority to intervene to ensure that this does not escalate. Hijab is a global phenomena, it is a God-given right. It is their right. We have seen case of judges, nurses and even uniform women in other countries putting on Hijab,” he said.
But Balogun insisted that several letters were written to the management of the school on the issue with no response. He said there is need for government to intervene in the crisis.
Meanwhile, the Board of Governors of the school has directed the management of the school to uphold dress code.
The board under the leadership of Professor Adeyinka Aderinto resolved that “the dress code as contained in the school rules and regulations be maintained while the school management has been empowered to enforce appropriately.”
The Board appealed to parents “to abide by the extant rules of the school to enable the school fulfil its mandate of providing sound education to our children.”
Also, the International School Ibadan Alumni Association has said the present controversy over wearing of Hijab must be viewed from the lens of principles and governing laws of the school and not through lenses of religion.
In a mail sent to the Chairman, Board of Governors, Professor Aderinto, the President of the Alumni Association, Tive Ekpere, maintained that the uniform policy was introduced to disabuse socio-economic inequalities, discourage segregation and minimize distraction on academic activities.
