Kerala Education Minister Offers Support to Muslim Student Denied Entry Over Hijab in Private School

The father of the Class VIII student had on Friday said that she would not be sent back to the school.

Thiruvananthapuram:

Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday announced the government's readiness to assist the Muslim girl student who was denied entry to a Church-run private school in Kochi for wearing a hijab, helping her secure admission in any educational institution of her choice.

The minister informed reporters that a special order would be issued if the student approaches the government with such a request.

This announcement follows the statement from the student's father indicating his intention to seek admission elsewhere for his daughter.

"If the student is interested and approaches the government, we will take steps to secure her admission in any school she wishes to join through a special order," the minister stated.

Sivankutty emphasized that according to Kerala's cultural values, no student should miss educational opportunities due to lack of admission.

He also noted that the situation has caused emotional distress to the girl and held St Rita school management responsible for any mental stress she experiences.

The father of the Class VIII student had previously confirmed that his daughter would not return to the school.

"My daughter has been under severe stress after the hijab incident. She clearly said she doesn't want to return, so we decided to respect her wishes," he had explained.

He mentioned that the family had already begun approaching other schools for admission.

Meanwhile, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally in the opposition Congress-led UDF, expressed support for the general education minister's position on the hijab controversy.

IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty described the school management's decision to bar the student from wearing hijab as an example of "utmost intolerance".

"It was an unfortunate incident that should not have happened in a state like Kerala," he stated during a press conference in Malappuram.

He suggested that certain vested interests were deliberately attempting to create issues, which is why the IUML had refrained from intervening in the matter until now.

The veteran leader characterized the school management's stance as "very undesirable" and claimed their media statements reflected intolerance.

The dispute originated when the school recently objected to the girl wearing a hijab, citing its dress code policy. The issue escalated into a significant controversy, with Minister Sivankutty supporting the girl's position.

On October 10, the student's parents and others visited the school to question the management's position, after which the institution declared a two-day holiday.

Subsequently, the Kerala High Court directed that police protection be provided to the school.