Hijab Crisis: Kwara reopens Baptist school after four-month closure

The Kwara State Government has announced the reopening of Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo, for students to resume academic activities following a four-month closure due to the Hijab crisis.

The school was closed on February 3 after Muslim and Christian parents stormed the institution to defend their respective faiths regarding the wearing of the hijab by female Muslim students at the school.

Mrs. Mary Adeosun, permanent secretary of the State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, announced on Wednesday that the school would reopen on June 3.

She stated that the government’s decision to reopen the school is meant to restore the institution’s normalcy.

“The Ministry’s decision to reopen the school is one of the government’s multi-prong approaches to return normalcy to the school,” the statement read.

“Consequently, all teachers and students are directed to return to their classrooms while the government white paper committee continues the efforts to address pending issues related to the recent disturbance in the public school.

“Similarly, the Ministry restates the government’s position that any Muslim schoolgirl who desires to wear the Hijab is allowed to do so in all public schools, including in Oyun Baptist High School Ijagbo, which is owned by the State Government and run with public resources,”

She urged all stakeholders in the area to give peace a chance and to respect the law, warning that “the government will not hesitate to shut the school again, among other things, if anything threatens the safety of the little children”.