Student to change school, cites stress over Hijab row in Kerala school

The father of the class 8 student, who was denied permission to attend classes wearing a hijab (headscarf) at a Catholic management school in Kochi, said Friday that he would obtain a transfer certificate (TC) and seek admission for his daughter at a different school.

Student to change school, cites stress over Hijab row in Kerala school

The decision of PM Anas, the father of the student at St Rita’s Public School in Palluruthy, comes after the school management stressed on the need for a written declaration from him that the student would follow the school’s uniform code. Earlier, the general education department, which had ordered an inquiry, had stated that the student had every right to wear a hijab (headscarf) at the school as part of her religious freedom.

“There are two reasons why I have decided to obtain a TC. One, the school principal’s remark that my daughter wearing hijab would spread fear among other students has caused her a lot of mental distress. Two, even though the education department has taken a decision in my favour, there is a chance that the continuation of my daughter’s studies there would cause communal conflict,” Anas told reporters.