The use of hijab has been generating controversy in public schools in the state, especially in grants-aided missionary schools.
The principal of Ijagbo Baptist High School in the Oyun local government area of Kwara state, Francis Lambe, has decried the resultant effect of the Hijab crisis on students who are in their final year in secondary schools in the state.
The principal noted that the continued closure of the school over the crisis trailing use of Hijab, may cost about 151 students the privilege of sitting for this year's West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scheduled to hold in June.
The use of hijab has been generating controversy in public schools in the state, especially in grants-aided missionary schools.
In February, the state government had ordered the closure of the school after violence broke out among Christians and Muslims amid the hijab crisis.
The state government later constituted a seven-member panel to investigate the matter.
Lambe who was sitting at the inaugural sitting on Monday, said about 151 students of the school might miss the exam — scheduled for June — if the hijab crisis was not resolved early enough.
He called for immediate resolution of the hijab controversy to allow the students to return to school and prepare for the exam.
“What I will recommend to the government is to invite the CAN and the concerned Muslim stakeholders and let them understand that policy is policy and pacify the two sides. Now, our school is closed. We have our SS3 students about 151 students ready to write WAEC,” he said.
In his remark, Shehu Omoniyi, chairman of the panel, called for the support of those invited by the committee.
“This panel is not meant to witch-hunt anybody. We are to assess critically what happened, how it happened and those that were involved and make specific recommendations,” he said.
“I urge people to calm down and cooperate with us. If you are invited, speak the truth and nothing but the truth. There’s no need to mislead the panel. Because we want to work with the fear of God and I hope at the end of the day all sides will be happy with our recommendations.”