CONFUSION as Students Storm School With Religious Outfit In Osun State

There was confusion at Baptist High School in Iwo, Osun State on

Tuesday as pupils shunned their uniforms and wore choir gowns, white

garments, Islamic apparel and other unconventional dresses to the

school.

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.

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.

While some say 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.

It was learnt that some student 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, Mr. Arowolo, told Punch that that the

issue had been reported to the appropriate authorities for necessary

action.

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

missionaries.

But the Joint Muslim Action Forum, JAF, which is an umbrella body of

all Islamic groups in the state, issued a statement, condemning the

protest by CAN.

The governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola has set up a body to

address all the issues immediately.