Osun govt should rethink uniform policy - Baptist High School Old Students

Osun govt should rethink uniform policy - Baptist High School Old Students

The Old Students Association of Baptist High School, Iwo, on Monday, urged Osun State government to handle the seeming controversy over the wearing of hijab and other religious paraphernalia to school with care, with a view to checkmating the development from snowballing into religious crisis.
In a communique issued by the national executive committee of the Baptist High School, Iwo Old Students’ Association (SOSAHIB) and signed by its President, Professor Oyesoji Aremu, the group said the issue of wearing of any form of religious paraphernalia should not be allowed in public schools.

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The communique, a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune also advised the government to re-consider its stand on the same uniform policy for all the pupils in public schools, warning that it was creating problem of identity, which portends danger to the educational system.
It reads in part: “We wish to bring to the notice of the state government that religion should not be allowed to disrupt its educational policy of which the result would be determined in the WAEC and NECO examinations coming up in May/June 2014.
“We feel disappointed and condemn very strongly religious radicalism and fanaticism of various groups’ adherents that portray Baptist High School Iwo, in bad light to the public. In a citadel of learning, parents and guardians should guide jealously the academic upbringing of their wards instead of exposing them to unwarranted religious fanaticism and radicalism which could be counter productive to their learning and future.”
According to SOSAHIB president, the school, which was founded by the missionaries, has great legacies which could be obliterated if female students were allowed to use hijab.
 “When the school was taken over by the government about 36 years ago, it was agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and the Baptist Convention that the legacies of the school will remain. Part of our legacies in the school is our uniform which we cherish and admire. We cannot therefore allow the Muslims to tamper with this legacy through the use of hijab by the female Muslim students,” Professor Aremu asserted.
He contended Muslim students can be allowed to use hijab up to the main entrance of the school, but would not be allowed to use it while in the school premises.
It will be recalled that students of the Baptist High School, Iwo, had last week wore different clothes that correlated with their religious beliefs to the school in protest against the use of hijab by female Muslim students of the school.