The Kwara State government has approved the use of hijab in state and grant-aided public schools.
This was contained in a statement released by the Secretary to the Kwara Government, Mamma Jibril.
The state government had on Februay 19, 2021, directed the temporary closure of 10 grant-aided secondary schools in Ilorin, pending the resolution of the controversy on the use of hijab.
The schools are the C&S College, ST. Anthony College, ECWA School, Surulere Baptist Secondary School, Bishop Smith Secondary School, CAC Secondary School, St. Barnabas Secondary School, St. John School, St. Williams Secondary School and St. James Secondary School.
”The state government has considered submissions of all major interest groups on the matter.
”It has also thoroughly considered the education law of Kwara state, the prevailing court judgments and current global trends of multiculturalism in evolving a consultation-based decision that will bring lasting peace and understanding to our communities.
“The government has also paid particular attention to the ‘declaratory’ nature of the subsisting judgments of the Court of Appeal and their purports.
“Consequently, the government hereby acknowledges and approves the right of the Muslim schoolgirls to wear the hijab, and directs the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development to come up with a uniform hijab for all public and grant-aided schools, which will be the accepted mode of head covering in schools.”
