PTA kicks as some Muslim parents distribute Hijab to female students at UI secondary school

The Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) of International School of the University of Ibadan on Tuesday unanimously condemned the move by some Muslim parents to impose the wearing of Hijab on Muslim female students in the school.

The Muslim Parents Forum led by Abdulrahman Balogun had stormed the school premises as early as 7am to distribute Hijab for Muslim students who are willing to wear the head veil.

However, parents of the three religious beliefs which include Christians, Muslims and traditionalists on Tuesday came together to resolve the controversy trailing the Hijab crisis which started yesterday.

Balogun, who is the leader of the Muslim Parents Forum, alongside some Muslim parents stormed out of the peace meeting after the congress echoed “No” to their demand.

An Ifa priest and university researcher, Baba Awo Awosanmi Abe, who intervened during the session told the school’s PTA congress that the principal of the school resisted his children from coming to the school with traditional beads which he complied with.

A Muslim parent, Alhaja Basirat Banke Adeniyi, who also sent a mail to the chairman of the PTA condemned the introduction of Hijab to the school, saying it is an international and secular school.

Another parent and former Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UI chapter, Prof. Ademola Aremu said as a Muslim he does not support the agitation by the Muslim Parents Forum for the students to adorn Hijab, stressing that the elites are only employing religion to divide the nation and turn people away from issues that are germane to nation building and students’ future.

However, Balogun, in a chat with Daily Trust, said nobody can stop his children from wearing Hijab to the school.

Meanwhile, at the end of its peace meeting today, the congress resolved that all status quo should be maintained, even though the Muslim Parents Forum left the meeting.

They added that security should be beefed up in the school’s premises with emphasis that “that wearing of Hijab will fan ember of division and insecurity among students.”