By BUSHRAH YUSUF-BADMUS

The Kwara State Government on Sunday recalled students of the 10 mission schools affected by the hijab crisis in the state since February from the second term holiday, directing them to start third term academic programme from today, Monday April 12, 2021.

A statement by Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, said the 10 affected schools should resume from the ongoing vacation to cover the academic activities lost during the period of the crisis.

She said that other schools not involved in the crisis would reopen on Monday, April 26, 2021.

All primary and secondary schools in the state started the second term holiday on Thursday, March 25, 2021.

Recall that the state government shut down the 10 schools in the state on February 19, 2021 as a result of the refusal of the school owners, who are Christian missionaries, to allow the wearing of hijab in their schools.

The government announced the reopening of the schools on March 18, 2021.

The statement reads partly, “This is to inform parents/guardians and teachers that the 2020/2021 third term academic session for the 10 schools affected in the recent hijab debate starts on Monday, 12th April 2021.

“This is part of the government’s efforts to bring the students in these schools up to speed with whatever they may have missed when their schools were shut. This is especially necessary for students preparing for external examinations.” (The PUNCH)