Hijjab; Kwara govt break open mission schools

Kwara State Government has break opened some of the grant-aided mission schools that refused to reopen after it’s pronouncement on reopening following controversy over hijab usage.
Our correspondent who witnessed the opening saw the use of welding saw by a welder to cut the chains and locks on the gates.
The cutting was done with the presence of armed security men and officials of the state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
The two schools opened were St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Offa road and C & S College, Sabo Oke.
The cutting at St. Anthony’s Secondary school met little resistance from church members but at C & S College, the church members came out in their numbers singing and praying.
It would be recalled that 10 schools were earlier closed down by the government on Feb. 19, over hijab controversy.
The State Government had directed resumption on March 8, allowing the use of Hijab by willing female students after meeting with stakeholders, but rescinded the decision for safety reasons.
In furtherance, the government announced reopening of the schools on March 17, but was met with resistance by some Christian faithful, thus the controversy.
This led to violence in some of the schools on Wednesday, which took the intervention of security personnel to control.
However, two days after government’s pronouncement on resumption, the schools remained locked with the exception of ECWA Secondary School, Oja Iya,
This made the state TESCOM to direct all principals, teachers and staff to resume on Friday or face sanctions.
However when our Correspondent visited St Anthony’s Secondary School, Bishop Smith Memorial College, and C &S College on Friday mornibg, they were under lock and key with principals, teachers and staff loitering around, unable to enter.
Vice Principal Admin, C & S College, Mrs Yemi Adedayo, said the gateman said he doesn’t know who locked the gate.
”When I got here this morning, the gate is firmly locked but the staff are all around according to directive from the government,” the vice principal said.
A teacher at St Anthony’s Secondary school, Mr Yunus Abdulrazaq said he also came to obey the directive from the state government.