Kerala School Reopens After Hijab Row Ends

St Rita’s Public School in Palluruthy reopened on Wednesday after remaining closed for two days following a dispute over an eighth-grade student wearing a hijab.

The school had declared holidays on Monday and Tuesday due to tensions between the management and the student’s parents.

The controversy began when the school, citing its 30-year-old uniform policy, barred the Muslim student from wearing a headscarf, claiming it affected uniformity.

The principal stated that the student had followed the dress code for several months but had recently begun wearing an additional piece of clothing over it.

According to the student’s father, the school objected to the hijab even at the gate, prompting him to file complaints with the District Education Officer and Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty.

Following the complaint, the minister intervened and directed the school to permit the student to attend classes while wearing her hijab.

He also instructed the school management to ensure emotional support for the student and her family.

A report by the Ernakulam Deputy Director of Education termed the school’s earlier actions as “serious misconduct” and a violation of the Right to Education Act.

Earlier, the Kerala High Court had granted police protection to the school amid the ongoing controversy.