Kerala Hijab Row: Ernakulam School Closes Amid Controversy; Police Protection Issued
A Kerala School has been shut down for two days after a hijab row involving an 8th-class girl wearing a headscarf against the uniform rules emerged. Citing safety and emotional concerns, the school has declared holidays on October 13 and 14.
The hijab row started on October 7, when a student at St. Rita’s Public School, in Palluruthy, affiliated with CBSE and a Christian-run school, wore a hijab – a headscarf covering the hair, ears, and neck. The controversy has triggered the closure of the school for two days and police protection, amid the debate over religious expression and school uniform policies in schools.
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Wearing a hijab went against the school’s dress code, and reportedly, the school authorities requested her parents to comply with the prescribed uniform. The situation escalated on October 10, when the student again reached school wearing the hijab. Reportedly, the girl’s father, Aziz, accompanied by several others, shouted and confronted the authorities. As per the principal, sister Helena Alby that the abusive language was used during class hours, which caused distress among students and staff.
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) alleged that the student’s parents were backed by members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), who misbehaved with the nun-led staff. However, SDPI has not issued any statement about the same. Meanwhile, the girl’s father defended her wearing hijab, saying that she had earlier won a scarf without pinning it as a hijab, and now the repeated discussions with the school about the uniform were met with hostility.
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The Education Minister V Sivankutty reaffirmed that students must follow school uniform policies and urged cooperation between parents and the school. Furthermore, the Kerala High Court has granted police protection to the school, ensuring the safety of staff and students, following a writ petition filed by the school. The court’s intervention aims to prevent the escalation of the dispute.
