Kerala school closed for two days after row over student wearing hijab

Some unknown persons came to the school and tried to create an issue. This caused stress to many other students as well as some teachers. Hence two days' holiday has been declared, says principal of the Kochi school

Thiruvananthapuram: A school in Kochi in Kerala has been caught up in a row over preventing a student from wearing the hijab. The school declared holidays on Monday and Tuesday after a section of people tried to create problem over the issue.

It all began when a student of class eight at St. Rita's Public School at Palluruthy in Kochi was prevented from wearing the hijab, citing that it was against the school's prescribed uniform.

Parents of the student told the media that the student was harassed by the school authorities over the issue.

The school authorities maintained that the girl who used to come in the school uniform till recently came wearing a hijab one day. Her parents were informed that it was against the school's prescribed uniform. But the girl again came wearing the hijab. Hence she was made to sit in the conference room along with a teacher. The parents subsequently informed that the hijab could not be done away with.

Some unknown persons came to the school and tried to create an issue. This caused stress to many other students as well as some teachers. Hence two days' holiday was declared, school principal sister Heleena Alby said in the holiday notice.

The student's parents said they would give a representation to the government on the matter.

The school authorities said all students and parents had been informed at the time of the admission that the school's uniform should be followed and all of them had agreed to it.