'False report by edu dept, minister worsened issue'; Palluruthy school authorities against minister amid hijab row

KOCHI: Authorities of Palluruthy St Rita's public school rejected the comments made by Education Minister V Sivankutty. Principal Sister Helena said that the report by the Ernakulam Deputy Director of Education was false. She also dismissed reports that the authorities denied entry to the eighth grader inside the class.

The Palluruthy St Rita's public school became a topic of debate after the authorities asked a girl student adorned in hijab to comply with the standard school uniform or face action. The school reopened yesterday after a two-day forced holiday following the protest march held by a few religious outfits. The school received the notice by email from the Director of Education at 9 am on Wednesday. All evidence was handed over when the DDE came to the school. The school authorities are lawfully bound to decide on the uniform of their choice. This is stated in the 2018 court verdict. The principal also said that he will talk to the parents of the student. The PTA rejected the claim that a consensus was reached on the issue under the leadership of the MP.

As per reports, the MP have not talked to the PTA but only to the parents of the child.

Latin Catholic organisations demanded that the school be given protection. The organisations criticised the Education Minister for needlessly adding fuel to the fire on the issue. The Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) and the Kerala Region Latin Catholic Association (KRLCC) demanded that controversies be settled soon.