Drama in Osun: Pupils Wear Religious Regalia to School ... Sing Different Religious Songs In Assembly

There was confusion at Baptist High School, Iwo, Osun State on Tuesday
as some pupils shunned their uniforms and wore choir gowns, white
garments, Islamic apparel and other unconventional dresses to the
school.

Pupils of Baptist High School, Iwo on the assembly ground... on Tuesday.

Although no group or individual could be identified as the mastermind
of the bizarre dress code by the pupils, there were, however,
conflicting reasons for the behaviour.

While some people said the unconventional dresses were a way of
registering dislike for the same uniform introduced by the government
for all schools in the state, others said some Christians who were
opposed to wearing of hijab in schools founded by Christian
missionaries orchestrated the drama.

The suit instituted on the issue of hijab wearing to school is still
pending before an Osun State High Court.

But Tuesday confusion reportedly became more pronounced at the
assembly ground as the pupils could not listen to their teachers
because they were busy lining up themselves along religious lines.

A female pupil, who was dressed in a purple gown usually worn by the
choir in the Baptist church, was said to have led Christian students
in gospel praises, while her Muslim counterpart dressed in hijab was
seen hollering "Allau Akbar" and singing praises to Allah from the
same platform simultaneously.

It was learnt that although many other pupils appeared in the
government-approved uniform, a few ones who are neither Christians nor
Muslims wore clothes with the insignia of their religious beliefs,
making the atmosphere in the school chaotic.

The confusion was said to have continued in the classrooms as pupils
sang discordant tunes. The confusion, it was gathered, started on
Monday and continued on Tuesday morning.

The teachers were said to be helpless in controlling the pupils due to
the sensitivity of the issue.
The Principal of the school, identified simply as Mr. Arowolo,
toldPUNCH Metrothat that the issue had been reported to the
appropriate authorities for action.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, said the
government had been informed of the development and had sent officials
of the Ministry of Education to the school on a fact-finding mission.
The Christian Association of Nigeria in the state had protested
against the wearing of hijab to schools founded by Christians,
describing it as an attempt to wipe away the heritage bequeathed to
them by the early missionaries.

But the Joint Muslim Action Forum, which is an umbrella body of all
Islamic groups in the state, issued a statement, condemning the
protest.
The statement was issued by the JOMAF Coordinator, Alhaji Kola Uzamat
and Secretary, Mr. Qaasim Odedeji.

The group described the prevention of hijab-wearing students from
Christian schools as an act of religious intolerance which would not
be allowed in the state