UI international school resolves to retain dress code

The International School Ibadan says it will continue to
maintain the dress code of the institution, which has been in
existence for 55 years.

This was made public as part of the resolutions arrived at after
a meeting of the Parent Teacher Association.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was tension in the
school on Monday as the morning assembly had to be suspended
following the appearance of some pupils in Hijab.

NAN also reports that a group, Muslim Parents Forum, had on
Friday petitioned the school’s management, insisting that female
students were entitled to the use of Hijab

Although the school’s assembly did not hold on Monday, the
students remained within the school’s premises while the gates were
shut.

But speaking after the meeting, the Chairman of the Parent
Teacher Association, Dr Kazeem Olaniyan, said the forum became
necessary in order to forestall a crisis in the school.

He appealed to aggrieved Muslim parents to keep the peace so
that the school could move forward.

“Whatever resolutions come out of this is the decision of the
Governing Board and not mine,” he said.

He, however, said that some aggrieved parents had written a
letter which would be responded to by the Governing Board.

Olaniyan also dismissed reports that the school was shut, saying
only the Governing Board could issue such directive.

The chairman also disclosed that the Governing Board would meet
on Wednesday to deliberate on the way forward.

“I will not see anything that will divide us and play along, I
will rather work for unity,” he said.

He added that there was no crisis before a mosque was built in
the school, adding that there is presently no church within the
school’s premises.

Olaniyan further explained that Arabic Studies and Islamic
Religious Knowledge were introduced in the school without
crisis.

Some parents, who spoke on the sidelines of the meeting, said
that the status quo on dress code should remain.

“I have lived in the North and I know what crisis can trigger;
whoever wants to practise a religion should do so in his or her
house

“This is a secular school and we should consider the
psychological and social effect of a crisis on our children,’’ Mrs
Rasidat Mustapha said.

Mrs Moronfolu Adedoyin, on her part, said “we are too divisive,
religion should not be forced down the throat of ISI, there are
other contending issues we should face.”

Mr Awosanmi Ade, a traditionalist, said his children used to
wear beads on their wrists.

Ade, however, said he ordered that the beads be removed as soon
as the children enrolled in the school as they were not part of the
dress code.

“Because I wanted my children to have ISI education, I quickly
ordered the beads to be removed since they were not part of the
school uniform.

“Please do not allow religion to divide this school, ” he
said.

NAN reports that other resolutions reached at the meeting
included that class allocation of students should not be done in a
way to segregate them.

It was also resolved that a committee should be put in place to
look into other grievances while security should be tightened.

(NAN)