₦airaland Forum

There’s nothing sensitive here. If parents know what your school stands for as a business, they will respect you and the institution. But if they notice that you keep changing rules to suit situations, one day a parent might even ask you to change the school’s name to their surname just because they pay fees promptly. Know this and know peace—chikina!

folake4u:
Such an interesting conversation. This reminds me of the Amasa Firdaus case in 2017.

The Nigerian Law School ordinarily allows female Muslim students to wear hijab to classes but not for Call to Bar ceremony until Amasa Firdaus in 2017 insisted that she would wear the hijab for her Call to Bar ceremony, this led to series of questions regarding freedom of religion and dress code in the legal profession.

Eventually, she was called to Bar in 2018. This set a precedence for female Muslim law graduates to wear hijab in their Call ceremony.

Just like sonnie10 said up there, follow the rules of the law. If the parents are well read, they might sue for infringement of fundamental human rights on freedom of expression, religion etc. You also need to research on schools' policies and accepted dress code/ethics governing that state.

What did you think about that ruling, legally?

Personally I was against it because Reverend Sisters had been removing their head coverings peacefully and Unilorin seems to have a tricky reputation with extremism.

By Nigeria law you can't stop them from wearing hijab
But in Nigeria, we having people do what they like about their business even though it's against the law.
So you can do what pleases you.

dboY1123:
Good morning all
I want us all to look into a request from a returning parent and come up with suggestions, advise, examples(picture samples) etc.
A family left our school some years back while their daughters were in nursery and lower pry classes.

They're planning to come back now while they are in the secondary sch Ss2 and SS 1 now
One going to SS2 didn't do well in our entrance test at all which we advised to repeat.
The SS1 performed excellently
So parents said they can't be in same classes. That they will get extra teachers you know their excuses.

The reasons why they left was that they took them to a Faith based sch so they could learn their religion, Islam, Long hijabs.
Now coming they want us to allow them wear hijabs in which I said NO cos ours isn't a Faith based sch as I won't even allow Christians SU cover their hair in sch.

I suggested that they buy them beret caps and wear after sch. So the parents went back home to think over it.

Do you think we should bend our rules to accommodate them buy allowing Beret, which the parents agreed to or we should maintain our standards knowing fully well that other parents would replicate.

Also I think IRS is now a compulsory subject in secondary schools new curriculum


Google Image used for illustration

Greetings Proprietor..

It's good to seek counsel when decision making looks glaring... there is nothing wrong in your students wearing hijab or covering their hair while in school... as long as the face is not covered...

Be reminded of the recent court judgment which ruled that the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) allow use of skirts by females in service... this means dressing that suits individual sense of religious inclination are permitted...

The only points where this may not be complied... where such dressing is scanty... or pose as a threat to others...

So let the students who wish to express positive values walk freely within you school premises...

semid4lyfe:
Ma'am, the Supreme Court hijab ruling applies specifically to the Nigerian Law School and by extension public institutions which are funded by government with tax payers money. The Nigerian Law School is one entity, and denial of peoples right to wear their hijab at the call to bar ceremony is in breach of the constitutional right of religious freedom and expression. It will also hinder people from partaking in the ceremony. I understand the SC judgement in that context.

Private schools on the other hand are not public property. They're voluntary institutions, and there are thousands of them in the country. Nobody is forced to attend them, and parents make a choice of private school knowing their rules and regulations.

For instance, my kids attend a conservative faith-based school. The school guidelines include;

◾Boys must barb only straight low cut. No flamboyant styles, no parting, no punk hair cut, dreadlocks or dada
◾Girls must not use coloured attachments, beads, or any adornment on their plaited hair.
◾Girls are permitted to wear only full-stop earrings.
◾No mufti. Only the schools ceremonial wear is permitted to be worn for school events, except on cultural and career days.
◾Only gospel music is played during school graduation, events and ceremonies.
◾The pupils and staff are anointed every beginning of term by a Pastor from the parent church.
◾Once in a while, the kids are expected to fast within a specified time period.
◾Cane and flogging is still used as a disciplinary measure.
Etc etc

I'm a moderate christian but I chose to abide by the school rules because I wanted my kids to attend the school due to its pedigree and excellent performance in Common Entrance examinations. My point is if the parents want their kids to attend the OP's school, they should abide by the school rules. Simple!.

Constitutionally, Nigeria is a secular country and Private schools operate under guidelines set by the Ministry of Education, but they also retain autonomy to set standards such as uniforms, discipline, or even religious orientation. That’s why there are Christian schools that make chapel attendance compulsory and Muslim schools that enforce Islamic dress codes and tenets.

Also, freedom of religion isn’t absolute. It can be limited in the interest of discipline, order, and the rights of others. An example is LASEPA sealing churches in residential neighbourhoods in Lagos on account of noise pollution.

The Lagos State guideline you refer to is about equal access to education. It means schools cannot deny admission to prospective students on the grounds of their religious faith, and NOT THAT private schools must abandon their dress codes or adjust their rules to match pupils religious preferences.

If every private school bend its standards for every demand, there'll be chaos and disorderliness. Schools need structure to function, and there are lots of option available to parents such as Christian, Muslim, Secular and Military schools. That freedom of choice is the balance, not forcing schools to abandon their identity

The OP's school does not allow the wearing of hijab, and he shouldn't compromise. If the hijab thing is so important to the parents, they should take their kids to schools that do. There are plenty of them in Nigeria.

Top of the morning to you.

Eyyyyyyyyyy! Oga Semi don quote epistle ontop my head.

Apologies for the late response, I've been offline since my last message to you.

I think we can agree to disagree here, Sir.

Unarguably, private schools are businesses, however, I don't see it as "abandoning" dress code to suit a religious preference.

Onegai:
What did you think about that ruling, legally?

Personally I was against it because Reverend Sisters had been removing their head coverings peacefully and Unilorin seems to have a tricky reputation with extremism.

Hmmm what's the deal with Unilorin and extremism?

PS: Apologies for the late response. I've been offline.