'Not just student, institution too has right, no change in policy prohibiting hijab'; PTA president rejects Education Minister's stand

KOCHI: Joshi Kaithavalappil, the PTA president at St. Rita’s Public School, Palluruthy, has openly rejected Education Minister V. Sivankutty's stand on the school’s hijab controversy. He stated that there will be no change in the school’s policy prohibiting the wearing of hijabs and emphasised that the rules are the same for all students.

Earlier, Minister Sivankutty had said that not allowing a student to wear a hijab was a serious lapse and a violation of the constitutional right to religious freedom. He had directed the school to permit the student to continue her studies while wearing the hijab, noting that the colour and design of the headscarf could be determined by the school authorities.

The minister had also instructed the school management and principal to submit a report on the issue. Responding to this, the PTA president said that the institution’s rights must also be respected. He added that there was a 2018 High Court ruling related to the matter, and the issue should be reviewed based on that judgment. The student, he said, can continue studying according to the school’s rules. The PTA president also mentioned that they had not received any official information about submitting a report to the minister.

The school, which had been closed for several days due to the controversy, reopened today. Citing law and order concerns, the school management has obtained police protection with the court’s permission.