Kerala education minister orders authorities to allow student to wear hijab in class

Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty on Oct 14 ordered St Rita’s Public School in Palluruthy to allow a student to wear a headscarf, reversing his previous support for strict enforcement of the school’s uniform policy.

The directive came after Ernakulam District Congress Committee president Muhammed Shiyas and Congress MP Hibi Eden met the student’s family and discussed the matter with the school authorities.

Eden had earlier said that the student’s father was willing to comply with the school’s dress code.

On Oct 13, Sivankutty had supported the school’s right to regulate uniforms, saying, “Anything that hides the school uniform cannot be allowed.”

The next day, the Education Department issued an order instructing the school to permit the student to wear a headscarf in line with her religious beliefs.

The school was closed for two days due to the controversy and reopened on Oct 15.

“The government has intervened in the incident at St Rita’s Public School, Palluruthy, Ernakulam, where a class 8 girl was not allowed to enter her classroom because she wore a headscarf,” Sivankutty said.

“Based on a complaint filed by the student’s father, the Ernakulam Deputy Director of Education conducted an inquiry and found serious lapses on the part of the school authorities,” Sivankutty added.

He noted that the inquiry found, “Expelling the student from class for wearing a headscarf constitutes a serious violation of conduct and a breach of the Right to Education Act.”

The report also said that the school’s actions “go against the fundamental religious freedom guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.”

Sivankutty said the school has now been instructed to allow the student to continue attending classes while wearing the headscarf, though authorities can determine acceptable colors and designs.

He added that the principal and school management must take steps to address the mental distress caused to the student and her parents and submit a detailed report by Oct 15.

“In a state like Kerala that upholds secular values, no student should have to face such an ordeal. No educational institution will be allowed to violate constitutional rights. The government will continue to remain vigilant on this issue,” Sivankutty added.