OSUN – Some pupils of the Baptist High School, Iwo, on Tuesday February 4th 2014, shunned their uniforms and wore choir ropes, white garments, Islamic apparel and other unconventional clothing to school.
It was learnt that the pupils were out of control on the assembly ground, as they lined up according to their religions and refused to pay attention to their teachers.
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.
The atmosphere was chaotic as other students that are neither christians or muslims wore clothes with the insignia of their religious beliefs, while many others wore the government-approved uniform.
The bizarre behaviour of the pupils may be linked to the state government’s directive that all schools in the state should wear the same uniform, a prospect that many of the students find undesirable.
In the same vein, some people believe that the students’ behaviour may have been orchestrated by some Christians in the state who were opposed to wearing of hijab in schools founded by Christian missionaries.
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.
The suit instituted on the issue of hijab wearing to school is still pending before an Osun State High Court.
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 state Ministry of Education was reportedly informed of the development and some of its officials have been sent to the school on a fact-finding mission.
