The hijab crisis started November 12, when some Muslim parents and guardians in an Islamic group led their hijab-wearing female students to the school.
Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
The International School, University of Ibadan, was on Monday reopened after a week of closure, which emanated from agitation for wearing of hijab by some Muslim parents and guardians of some of the students in the school.
READ ALSO: UI International School shut over hijab crisis
But the highest decision making body in the school, Board of Governors, being chaired by Prof Abideen Abiodun Aderinto, the deputy vice chancellor (Academics), maintained that the dress code of the school, which is uniform without any religious colouration, should be adhered to, strictly, for now.
Security men from the University of Ibadan were stationed at the entrance which leads to the main gate of the school; to maintain law and order.
Parents were not allowed to enter the school’s premises.
They were asked to park their cars outside while their wards entered the premises for studies.
A security man at the school gate said there was an order by the school management which barred journalists and parents from entering the school.
The hijab crisis started on Monday November 12, 2018, when the chairman of an Islamic group, International School Muslim Parents’ Forum, Alhaji Abdulrahman Balogun, and some Muslim parents and guardians in the group led their hijab-wearing female students to the school.
Balogun described reopening of the school, yesterday, as a welcome development.
He disclosed the Muslim Parents’ Forum has decided to honour the agreement signed with stakeholders for peace to reign in the school.
He also state that important personalities in the country have also intervened and brokered peace, which led to the signing of a peace accord, and added that the Board of Governors has said it would look into the agitation.
“We will give them some time to look into our agitation.
“We hope there will be fairness and justice and there will not be victimisation of any student based on the events that occurred in the past two weeks.”
Daily Sun observed that UI internal security personnel stood at the entrance and ushered only students and teachers into the premises.
In a statement on Sunday, Aderinto said the decision and outcome of the board meeting of November 14 should be respected and that those seeking a change in dress code should follow due process.
He, however, said the final decision on any such change still lies with the board.
“The International School is a private school and is guided by its own policies, rules and regulations.
“The meeting also noted that there is a subsisting court judgment that has affirmed the private status of the school.
“The status quo as regards students’ dress code as contained in the school rules and regulations should be maintained.
“Adequate measures should be put in place to forestall breakdown of law and order in the school,’’ he said.