Dissatisfied with the resolve of the International School Ibadan (ISI)  to retain its dress code, the Muslim community of Oyo State has called on the authorities of the institution to allow female students wear hijab.

The Secretary-General of the body, Ismaeel Busaeri, made the call at a news conference held at the University of Ibadan mosque on Wednesday.

Busaeri said that the news conference was organised to brief the public on the lingering crisis at the 55-year-old institution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was tension in the school on Monday as the morning assembly had to be suspended following the appearance of some pupils in Hijab.

Although the school’s assembly did not hold, the students remained within the school’s premises while the gates were shut.

The Parent Teacher Association of the school on Tuesday, however, said it would continue to maintain the dress code of the institution.

The Chairman of the association, Dr Kazeem Olaniyan, announced the decision as part of the resolutions arrived at after a meeting in the school.

But Busaeri said the Muslim community was disturbed about the development and urged the Federal Government to intervene in the matter before it degenerates.

He said wearing of the hijab by female Muslim students was a God-given right  enshrined in the constitution.

“Hijab is a global phenomenon, it is a God-given right. It is their right. We have seen cases of judges, nurses and even women in uniforms in other countries putting on hijab.

Also speaking, a parent, Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun, said Muslim parents and their children had over the years called for the use of  hijab  in the school.

Balogun said several letters written to the school’s management on the issue had yet to be responded to.

“This press briefing is to let you hear  our own side of the story. I am a parent, my children are in the school,’’ he said.

The principal of the school, Mrs Phebean Olowe, was unavailable for comments on this latest reaction to the controversy as she was said to be in a meeting when NAN correspondent visited the school. (NAN)

– Nov. 14, 2018 @ 17:05 GMT |