Addressing Religious Crises in Nigerian Secondary Schools: Parents’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Hijabs in Christian-Named Government Schools
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This article is worthy of publication but not in its current form. It needs further background information, preferably in a literature review section, greater clarity in the methodology section, and more application of critical theory in the discussion section.
For a detailed response, see attached document.
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The topic of the article is interesting, topical and has wider and universal connotations in the area of the peaceful coexistence of religions and faiths. This issue is very relevant in multicultural and pluralistic societies. The specific issue of wearing the hijab opens up a space for debate on mutual understanding, respect, one's own identity or curiosity about the Other.
The article is structured correctly, the structures are clear and consistent, the methods used are not questionable. The conclusions drawn from the research are also generally accurate.
However, there are a few shortcomings in the article that are worth pointing out:
1) the abstract moves too quickly from outlining the context of the topic undertaken to the research methodology. As a result, we do not learn why the research is being undertaken or why it was undertaken;
2) in lines 134-135 there is a claim that: "School administrators must make sure that their institutions employ critical theory, which is dedicated to social justice and looks to uncover and correct power disparities". The question is, do these administrators have the right and competence to do so? They can propose the application of critical theory, demonstrate its usefulness - and that's probably all they have....
3) In the article ( line 246) there is a statement that religious tolerance influences school closures - is it about tolerance or lack of tolerance?
4) to the conclusions, I would still suggest educating Christian (or more broadly non-Muslim) students about the role and significance of the hijab, so that it is not seen as part of a demonstration or tool of conversion, but as an integral part of dress and identity.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The lack of a letter outlining how the author(s) addressed my earlier points means that I don't know their thinking regarding some of the points I raised earlier. I still have some remaining questions:
1. The structure of education in Nigeria needs further clarification. For example, on line 123, it is written that missionaries took control of all schools in the 1970s. Yet the Ministry of Education participant on line 254 said in 1975 "schools were adapted from the mission schools and since have been government schools". The same is suggested on lines 406-407.
2. Structure is important because the larger question is WHY Muslims parents would send their child to a Christian school. Is it because such schools are secular? That doesn't appear to be the case. Because they are the closest school to home? Do parents have a choice. The background section needs to be expanded to develop more clearly the structure of the education in Nigeria. The missionary/public/Christian/Muslim school nature of schools remains unclear.
3. I raised a question in my earlier comments about why is a federal unity school as referenced on line 351.
4. There needs to be further connections between theory and discussion. For example, line 440 reads "social, political, and economic structures need to be changed in order for schools to achieve its objective." What "social, political and economic" structures are you referencing? Some of your participants talked about the politicization of religion. Is that an accurate portrayal of what's happening? Are there power dynamics involved in how religion is being politicized? Is the politicization of religion a cause of the hijab crises? It appears so. By whom? Under what circumstances? What can be done about it?
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
