Kerala school hijab row: Education Minister says govt won’t let schools become flashpoints over students’ rights to freedom of religion and expression

Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, said the government will not allow schools in the state to become religious flashpoints on students’ rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

St. Peter’s Church in Palluruthy in Kochi, Mr. Sivankutty told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the management of Rita Public School “violated the fundamental rights” of a female student who wore a headscarf (hijab) to school. He said school officials denied the student his right to education by keeping him out of the classroom on the grounds that he “violated” the institution’s “dress code”.

Mr. Sivankutty said Deputy Education Director, Ernakulam Subin Paul has directed the District Education Officer to conduct an investigation. The official submitted the five-page report to the government on Wednesday.

Mr. Sivankutty said the report pointed out serious lapses in the school management. “The school can decide on the design and color of its students’ uniform. However, it has no right to violate the constitutional rights of students. The government has asked the school management to make a statement without delay. Further action, if any, will depend on the school’s statement,” he added.

Mr. Sivankutty said the government will not allow any element to create communal friction in schools or in Kerala society in general.

The school was closed for two days after the problem caused social tension. Due to the threat that the problem might escalate, the police provided protection to the school. Later, elected public representatives, including MP Hibi Eden, spoke to the girl’s aggrieved parents and mediated to reach an agreement.

Sivankutty welcomed the rapprochement

Mr. Sivankutty welcomed the rapprochement. “MPs and MLAs have the right to resolve such disputes. But the government is not a party to mediation between elected representatives, PTA and school management,” he added.