The Management of Kaduna Polytechnic has condemned what it described as overzealous enforcement of the Institution's dress code policy after several students were prevented from attending lectures despite wearing what officials acknowledged as moderate and appropriate clothing.
The Institution launched an investigation following viral videos showing students protesting after being barred from entering the College of Business and Management Studies over alleged Dress Code violations.
In a press release issued on Thursday and signed by the Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocol, Mr. Godwin B. Ayegba, the Polytechnic stated that the affected students should not have been denied access to their lectures based on their dressing.
"The dresses worn by the affected students, as shown in the viral video, appear moderate and appropriate. In view of this, the students in question ought not to have been barred from their lectures on this basis," the statement said.
In one of the widely circulated videos, a female student expressed frustration after she and others were stopped from entering the school premises despite what they described as modest dressing.
"I am fully covered, my trousers reach the ground. There is nothing wrong with what I'm wearing," she said in the video, adding that "security already cleared me to enter inside the school, only for me to enter, and one man in particular called me back."
She complained that several students had spent money on transportation to attend lectures but were turned away over what she described as minor issues. "See, people are standing outside. People wasted transport to come to school, and you are sending them back for very useless things," she said.
The student alleged that some students were denied entry because the sleeves of their clothing were considered too short, even though their bodies were properly covered.
"Tell me why you say that this lady cannot enter because the hand of her shirt is short. Her breast is not showing, her clothes are to the ground, and you are saying the hand is short," she said, while showing the other students waiting outside the gate. "I did not pay school fees for this rubbish," she said, adding that asking students to remove nail polish or change their clothing before attending lectures was excessive.
"I am sorry, I am not in primary school. If I were in primary school or secondary school, I would understand. I am not in primary school," she said.
The student claimed that the enforcement had been ongoing for about one or two weeks, calling on the institution's management to intervene. "I want to assume that the management of KADPOLY does not know that this is what their committee or whatever is doing. They should call them to order. They are being extreme," she said.
The Management explained that the institution maintains a dress code policy designed to promote decency, professionalism, and a conducive learning environment. However, it stressed that enforcement of the policy must follow the approved guidelines and should not be carried out excessively or arbitrarily.
According to Mr. Ayegba, an investigation has already been initiated to determine what transpired and identify any lapses in the implementation of the dress code policy. "The management has immediately initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident to ascertain the facts and determine any lapses in the application of the policy," he said.
He added that appropriate measures would be taken to resolve the matter fairly and prevent a recurrence.
The institution pledged to ensure that future enforcement of the dress code policy balances the need for decorum with respect for students' rights and access to learning.
