Hijab crisis: UI reopens ISI for academic activities on Monday

Hijab crisis: UI reopens ISI for academic activities on Monday

Sunday, November 25, 2018 9:14 pm


UI International School

Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan

The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, UI, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka has ordered the reopening of International School, Ibadan for academic activities tomorrow stressing that adequate measures has been put in place to forestall breakdown of law and order in the school.

Olayinka disclosed this in a statement after the expanded management meeting of the Premier University concerning the crisis that has been rocking the institution’s private secondary school over the use of Hijab by Muslim students.

The VC, who explained that the secondary school is a private school and is guided by its own policies, rules and regulations pointed out that there is a subsisting court judgment that has affirmed the private status of the school.

He stressed that the status quo as regards students’ dress code as contained in the school rules and regulations is maintained adding, “Individuals or groups that may seek a change in the dress code, or any other aspect of the rules of the school should follow the due process of requesting for such but the final decision on any such change still lies with the Board of Governors”.

In a letter to the parents issued and signed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Yinka Aderinto, titled, “As we reopen, let this house remain one”, the management of the institution sued for peace stressing that it is only in an atmosphere of peace that sound education could be provided to the students.

Aderinto said, “Let us not allow the events of the last one week or so, cause any disaffection among us. I plead that we reunite in the interest of our children, who have been studying together as one big family.  It is also only when we reunite that other challenges facing the school can be confronted, and surmounted”.

He said the Board of Governors and the School Management have been committed towards improving the performance of the students adding, “Although, we recorded an almost 100 per cent pass in our last two WAEC Examinations, we feel that we are not yet where we should be, which is for our students to record  As in all their subjects. This was the case some years back, when ISI ranked among the top three secondary schools in the whole of the country. We are positive that those glorious years will return, with all the efforts that are currently being undertaken”.

According to him, “As you may also be aware, our Vice Chancellor recently commissioned some projects in the school executed by some class sets of Ex-ISIs. Another set also laid the foundation for the construction of a block of classrooms to be completed and commissioned sometimes next year when the set will be celebrating their 30 years anniversary of their graduation from into ISI. I am aware that work is steadily progressing on the project. These are among the many other positive interventions that the school has experienced over the years. I appreciate the efforts of our alumni and those of our parents as individuals and under the auspices of the Parent/Teachers Association, and others who have assisted the school in maintaining the greatness and fame for which the school is known.

“I have taken some time to highlight some of these impactful interventions because they were accomplished in a spirit of that one big ISI family. It is that peace and oneness of purpose that I plead with you to allow to continue to guide our actions. Let us continue to abide by the rules and regulations of the school, and follow the due process in our attempts at seeking change in any aspect of the rules of the school. This is a humble plea from the heart. Let us remember that ISI is a legacy that we inherited, and which we must pass on to generations coming after us”.


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