Fifty five Muslim students at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) International School Ogbomoso have been barred from entering the school premises over their use of Hijab. Premium Times reports the said the students were turned back at the school’s gate for wearing Hijab on their uniforms on Monday morning, January 14. A teacher who did not want to be named said the Muslim community in the school in 2011 made request to the governing council of the school to allow Muslim female students who wish to wear Hijab do so.

"Since 2011, several letters of appeal had been written to the GC while we wait endlessly without response to our simple request. Our Muslim girls over the period have been using beret (cap) instead of Hijab, contrary to the Islamic dictate, the teacher said “While our patience overtime as law-abiding citizens was premised on our belief that the management of the school will do the needful and give regard to the rule of law and provision of the Constitution guaranteeing the fundamental human right of everybody.

“Having waited endlessly since 2011, it was decided on the 4th of January, 2019 that our willing Muslim female children should commence the use of Hijab as the school resumes on 7/1/2019.” While reacting to the issue, the school’s principal, Ibrahim Animashaun, said the school board of governors is yet to approve the use of Hijab.

He urged the parents to and the students to await the decision of the school board of governors on the issue. “The school board of governors is yet to approve the use of Hijab. And the board is looking at their letter. So we are yet to communicate them. The status quo remains until the board approves their request," Animashaun said. “We spoke with the aggrieved parents that their letter is still with the board. LAUTECH International School board of governors is looking at their letter”.

www.legit.ng/1215319-lautech-secondary-school-reportedly-sends-55-students-home-wearing-hijab.html