Addressing Religious Crises in Nigerian Secondary Schools: Parents’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Hijabs in Christian-Named Government Schools

Abstract

Rural schools, especially Christian-named government schools situated in Muslim-dominated states in Nigeria, have experienced spates of violence, and this has caused a loss of lives and property. This paper examines the perceptions of parents and teachers on the presence of hijabs in Christian-named government secondary schools in Nigeria. The paper uses a qualitative method to investigate how stakeholders perceive the hijab crisis and its implications for religious crises and the academic performance of learners in Nigerian secondary schools. A case study design was adopted for the study. The data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that a majority of the respondents were opposed to students wearing hijabs in Christian-named government schools. Furthermore, respondents argued that the hijab crisis has implications for religious crises and could lead to increased tensions and violence in schools. Consequently, the paper concludes that stakeholders must be engaged to address the hijab crisis and to ensure the safety of learners and teachers. Strategies are also suggested for preventing and mitigating religious crises in Nigerian secondary schools. It is recommended that the government create policies that support cultural and religious diversity and provide resources for stakeholders to engage in productive dialogue. This paper provides useful insights into the perceptions of stakeholders on the presence of hijabs in Christian-named government schools in Nigeria.