LAGOS INSISTS ON HIJAB RESTRICTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Lagos State Government has insisted that pupils in its public schools are only allowed to wear conventional uniforms to the school.

The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye and the Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola, Otunba Fatai Olugoga, made the disclosure on Tuesday, at a media briefing on the activities of the ministry in the last one year as well as activities marking the sixth year of Fashola administration’s in office.

Also Olayinka Oladunjoye said that least N7 billion has been spent by Lagos state government on various infrastructural development projects in Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo campus, in the last one year.

On the usage of of Hijab in public schools, she insisted that students are only allowed to wear conventional uniforms to the school.

Oladunjoye explained that the issue of hijab in public schools was a knotty issue when she assumed office as the commissioner of Education, adding that there was need to sort out the problem.

According to her, “I summoned a stakeholder’s meeting that was chaired by the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole, the Muslim Students were represented at the meeting, Lawyers were represented. We discussed the issue at length and we reached certain agreement.

“We agreed that students could use their hijab when they want to go for prayers during the school hours; when they want to read Qur’an and when they are going for Jumat prayer on Fridays,” the commissioner said.

The commissioner added that it was agreed that no student should wear hijab on her uniform noting that doing so will cause confusion and break down of the law.

She said , “ We agreed that the female Muslim students should not open their head when they are going for prayers or wherever they may be. At least, they have their beret which they can put on. If we should allow full usage of hijab in school, then we will be causing confusion.

“Whoever wish that his daughter should be wearing hijab while going to school and within the school should send such child to a Muslim school,” she emphasized
Lagos expends N7Bn on LASU infrastructure upgrade in one year

Also the Lagos State said that least N7 billion has been spent by Lagos state government on various infrastructural development projects in Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo campus, in the last one year.

According to Oladunjoye, “LASU is currently witnessing massive infrastructural development. The governor has continued to show his preference for qualitative education at all levels and very soon, the new faculty of science building, new faculty of management science building, school of transport building, the seven storey senate building, the students’ union (arcade) building, students hostel and many other projects will definitely change the architectural landscape of the main campus, Ojo, Lagos.

“In addition, the renovation of three-in-one lecture theatre in faculty of education has been completed and also the two-in-one lecture theatre at the faculty of Law is nearing completion”.

The commissioner, however, stressed that the administration had cut down on recurrent expenditure which had resulted into improved funds management and financial prudence.
“This has also helped the university to save some money and avoid wastage. Oladunjoye said

Source: Vanguard