Kerala’s Education Minister, V Sivankutty, has intervened in a controversy involving a Muslim student who was reportedly barred from attending classes at a Christian-run school in Kochi for wearing a hijab.
On Tuesday, the minister directed the school to allow the student to continue her education while wearing her religious headscarf. He also instructed the school principal and management to address the mental distress caused to the student and her family due to the incident.
Authorities have been asked to submit a detailed report on the matter by 11 am on Wednesday.
Upholding Secular Values and Rights
Minister Sivankutty emphasized that Kerala stands by its secular and constitutional principles and will not tolerate discrimination against students on religious grounds. “No student should face such hardship in Kerala, which upholds secular values. No educational institution will be allowed to violate constitutional rights,” he stated.
The directive followed a report from the Ernakulam Deputy Director of Education (DDE), which highlighted serious lapses in the school administration’s handling of the situation. The DDE found that preventing the student from attending class for wearing a hijab constituted misconduct and violated the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
School Found at Fault
According to the DDE, the school’s actions contradicted both the RTE Act and Kerala’s policy of inclusivity in education. The incident was described as a serious lapse undermining equal opportunity and respect for individual rights.
Following the assessment, the Education Department acted swiftly to ensure the student’s right to education was not compromised.
The minister’s intervention underscores the government’s stance that educational institutions in Kerala must remain inclusive and respectful of all faiths. The incident has reignited debates on religious expression and institutional autonomy in private schools, while affirming Kerala’s long-standing commitment to secularism and constitutional equality.
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