Lagos public schools and Hijab distraction
PROVIDED that a formal stay of execution of the judgment of the Appellate Court has been obtained, the Lagos State Government’s decision to maintain its ban of in its public schools is remarkable and it will serve public good.
While reassuring the public the other day of the state’s commitment to the rule of law, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, had stated that the use of in Lagos public schools would not be allowed until the Supreme Court “determines an appeal seeking to upturn the decision of a Court of Appeal.”
As the stakeholders in this very important case earnestly await the decision of the Supreme Court, all the parties in this controversial case must be reminded of a few key points and facts, the most basic of which is that religion is a strictly personal affair whose manifestations in public spaces must be reduced to the barest minimum.
Schools, particularly primary and secondary schools, are part of the most important public institutions necessary for the development of citizens. It is only sensible, therefore, that at this key phase of the growth of children the feeling of oneness, rather than difference, should be ingrained into their minds.
The wide and age-long use of school uniforms is presumably a testament to this community-oriented principle. Pupils should be encouraged to perceive one another as together and alike instead of being separated along ethnic, class, and/or religious lines at that pupa state of development. Without prejudice to the groundswell of opinions in this connection, advocating the use of
in schools diminishes this idea of oneness. We mean this in the name of everything that is noble about this great nation.
The purpose of education is not ambiguous; it is enlightening and so should not be deployed for the entrenchment of religious devotion in the impressionable mind of the pupils. That would be indoctrination, and one of the salient goals of schooling is specifically to guard the mind of the educated against all forms of indoctrination. There are, in any case, special schools such as seminaries and that have been built for the purpose of religious orientation.
In such specialised settings the wearing of religious regalia is a splendid and in fact indispensable practice. In public, secular schools however (and it must not be forgotten that Nigeria is constitutionally a secular state), religious dressing should normally constitute a malpractice insofar as enrolment in such schools, in the first place, remains optional. If parents can choose whether to send their children to public secular schools or dedicated religious institutions, schools reserve the right to determine their own sartorial policies.
Emphasis should be on the quality of education and the proper equipment of pupils for both internal and external competition. It is indeed an index of underdevelopment that in this universalistic twenty-first century, debates over school curriculum are swept under the carpet while the wearing of is being pushed to the level of a national contention. How does any piece of religious paraphernalia save a girl-child from poverty and rape? How does the veil guarantee academic or professional excellence? Does it, in any case, even guarantee the virtue, the purity that closure seeks to force on erring flesh?
Having now moved to more practical concerns, it appears that the continued use of in public schools and spaces would only lead to a heightening of fear and trembling in the citizenry. This is in the light of the fact that terroristextremist religious organisations all over the world and in Nigeria in particular have become quite fond of deploying -wearing women in their suicide-bombing rampages. It is imperative for the Supreme Court, in making its decision, to consider this specific national security concern and how wellequipped the state is in dealing with it.
Not to be taken as an advocacy for the complete banning of religious practices, this is merely a call for their proper regulation in order to restore peace and calmness in an already heated polity. Perhaps it would constitute less of a security concern if use of religious attires were confined to religious institutions, since it is not likely that an extremist-terrorist would attack members of his or her own sect. It would also be more practical, definitely.
What would be impractical is to reinstate the use of in public schools, for then there would be no basis for rejecting other forms of religious clothing (celestial gowns, or even the animal skins and amulets of traditional worshippers). Then every public school is bound to look like a shambolic site of Halloween. That would be, in the main, disastrous for the acclaimed economic capital of West Africa, Lagos, in the most populous black nation on earth. So, promoters of this divisive tendency should renew their minds as we renew efforts to rebuild this nation that politicians have been competing to ruin – through ethnic and religious weapons. Our children should be shielded from this time bomb: they should be made to wear school uniforms. This will be in public interest that the Lagos State government seeks to protect.
SIR: Few days ago, the media, social in particular, was awashed of the sorrystory of the lost accreditation of prestigious courses like Law, Dentistry and two others, at the acclaimed ‘Africa’s Most beautiful campus’; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife by the National University Commission (NUC). At first, it came as a huge joke!
My bewildered-self contacted students of ‘Great Ife,’ for the authentication of the news, as at the moment, credible newspapers were yet to report. The reason is not farfetched; this is Nigeriawhere rumour-mongering is the past-time on social media. ‘Mushroom’ news platforms everywhere!
I thought, to expect anything good from a government that is carefree about proper education funding is sheer self-illusory. In Nigeria, education is obviously underfunded.
An anonymous source, from Faculty of Law, OAU, credited to have explained that the lost accreditation is not a resultant effect of lack of facilities but manpower related. Whose gist? The jocularity of education in Nigeria has been taken too far. Sad. Who will tell the government that university students are priceless assets, and are on the threshold of a world of useful service to the nation? Who? That, toying with their future will be too precarious for the nation to handle.
Is the lost accreditation a big deal? It is no novelty. For the Faculty of Law, the event of 2006 has repeated itself. 21st Century institution indeed. What a ruse!
The budgetary allocation for education is nothing to write home about. Regrettably low. Terrible. Whereas, UNESCO recommends around 25%-27% of the country’s budget, to be allocated to education reverse is the case in Nigeria. Students’ unionism that ought to be an avenue for students to demand proper funding of the education by the government, has been proscribed by the managements of most institutions; without exception to the ‘Great Ife’ Students’ Union. This is obviously a unanimous calculated attempt to silence the union. The few neo-fascist student-activists have always been victimised .Why? Speaking against the draconic and anti-students’ policies of the school managements and government have been their ‘crimes.’
The few institutions whose unions have not been proscribed are not near radical, independent, ideological and mass-based. For those are the attributes of a vibrant students’ union - that can drag the government’s feet to the fire - to make provisions for proper funding of education. Gone are the glorious days of NANS! Not the award ‘selling’ one. Don’t get it twisted: It is sheer irresponsibility on the part of the government for one of its highly-revered higher institutions to lose its accreditation due to the ridiculous reason of inadequate staffing. Tell me it’s not.
When we clamour for system change, they ignore us. Truly, we are out of our minds. Are we contesting that? But, what good has capitalism brought to this wobbling nation? Tell me. I hope we get well soon. Show me a socialist state that socioeconomic rights, like ‘right to education’ of her citizens are not guaranteed. Yet, we complain of the failure of socialism. Capitalism has outlived its usefulness, no doubt. Swallow the bitter pill.
History will be told of how students were denied right to qualitative and affordable education due to the recklessness of our ruling class. Yet, they suck our treasury dry with their ‘outrageous salaries and allowances. Still, they are as useless as the ‘p’ in psychology!
A kaleidoscopic system is desperately needed to save our democracy from this pang. System change is the answer, I repeat. Should we not be puzzled of how a ‘responsible’ government finds its crumbling educational system lofty? Are we close to Utopia, at all?
Please, does Buhari sleep at night?