 "Why a Kerala school shut for two days over hijab row")
A private school in Kerala run by the Latin Catholic Church is embroiled in a row over the demand to allow a student to wear the hijab. The St Rita’s Public School in the Palluruthy area of Kochi’s Ernakulam was compelled to declare a two-day holiday on Monday (October 13) and Tuesday (October 14) after the dispute flared up last week.
The incident prompted reactions from politicians, with Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajeev Chandrasekhar calling it “orchestrated” and “distressing”. The controversy, however, could ebb soon.
We take a look.
Hijab row in Kerala school
A row erupted in Kerala last week after a Class 8 student came to her school in Kochi wearing a hijab. As per reports, the girl had adhered to the school’s prescribed uniform code for four months before wearing a hijab earlier this month.
The school said this violated the uniform policy and the student was asked to comply “in a loving way”.
“We asked her to remove the hijab in a loving way and she complied. The next day, her mother came to school and we informed her that the student has to follow the rules and regulations,” the school’s principal told the media.
However, the matter escalated after the girl wore a hijab to school again on October 10.
After being denied entry for wearing the headscarf covering the hair and neck, the student’s father reportedly reached the CBSE-affiliated school, along with several others.
“This school is not allowing me to wear a hijab. They made me stand at the entrance (of the classroom) and told me to remove it. Teachers were rude. I won’t study here,” the student told NDTV.
The situation escalated after a group of people stormed St. Rita’s Public School, demanding that the student be allowed to wear the hijab.
#Kerala's #Hijab Row | #CBSE school in #Kerala shut down amid hijab row! A Muslim student claims she was forced to remove her #hijab at the gate, sparking tensions
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 14, 2025
School cites staff leave & mental stress as reasons for closure. @Neethureghu @_pallavighosh share more details pic.twitter.com/sUiKqSIjbK
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAn official of the school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) alleged the girl’s parents were supported by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), a political outfit linked to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The person claimed that the members of the group misbehaved with the school authorities, who are mostly nuns.
PTA member Joshi Kaithavalappil told NDTV, “SDPI workers are behind it. Their party members came to enforce it… (and) they put more pressure on the school than the parents.”
Holiday declared in Kerala school over hijab row
The hijab row came to light after a letter issued by the school’s principal declaring a two-day holiday surfaced on social media.
In the letter, Sister Heleena Alby cited “pressure” from the student who did not adhere to the prescribed uniform, her parents and certain individuals not associated with the school, which led to a few students and staff members seeking leave due to mental stress.
As a result, the school decided to declare holidays on October 13 and 14 after consulting the executive members of the PTA, the letter read.
“We aim to provide quality education in accordance with the freedoms guaranteed by the country and the rights of school managements, and we expect your continued cooperation,” it added.
Speaking to the media, the school principal stated that the girl and her parents had been clearly informed about the school uniform. “The school has been functioning since 1998. This is the first time that the school has witnessed such an issue. The parents and a group of people reached the school and created a commotion last Friday [October 10]. Teachers and students are tense. Hence, we decided to remain closed for two days,” she said.
According to Sister Heleena, the school called the student’s parents after she came wearing a hijab. “Her father came with a few others; they started shouting and started a live video. They spoke in abusive language while classes were in session,” she was quoted as saying by The News Minute (TNM).
PTA president Joshy Kaithavalappil told Indian Express he suspected the role of “extremists” behind the row. “She joined the school in June this year and followed the dress code — pants and shirt for girls — till October 6. At the time of admission in June, we had clearly mentioned the uniform, and the girl’s parents agreed. Of the 450-odd students, 117 are Muslims. Only one student wants to challenge the uniform, and the PTA is totally against this demand. We suspect the role of extremist elements behind the demand. Those who protested at the school are not local people,” he said.
The girl’s father argued that his daughter did not violate the school’s uniform policy. “For the last four months, she went to school with a scarf. But she hadn’t pinned it like a hijab. Her mother has gone to the school several times to discuss the rule. When I went to speak with the principal, the PTA president and others spoke to me very sternly,” he reportedly said.
He also told the media that the family had contacted the school several times, demanding his daughter’s right to wear the hijab. “If my daughter wears a hijab, how will it lead to loss of uniformity,” he asked, as per Indian Express.
As the row snowballed, the school approached the Kerala High Court for police protection. On Monday, the court granted interim police protection to the management, staff, and students.
Political storm over Kerala hijab row
The hijab row at Kerala school triggered a political storm in the state.
Kerala BJP President Chandrasekhar told CNN-News18, “This is 100 per cent orchestrated. This is testing the political culture and societal makeup of Kerala. This is political posturing and backed by Congress and forced embedded.”
He also accused the opposition Congress party of “surrendering before extremist forces,” saying, “The politics of Kerala is reaching a level where on one hand, Congress talks about the Constitution and then gets in coalition with Jamaat-e-Islami, which often questions the Constitution.”
The opposition BJP slammed the SDPI for having created a “ruckus” inside the school campus. “This incident has damaged the secular fabric of our state. There is nothing wrong in a girl wearing a hijab,” BJP leader Shone George, who met the school’s management yesterday, told NDTV.
“117 Muslim girls study hear and they all abide by the uniform rules. But, in this instance, the school actually shut down because of fear of the SDPI… this cannot be allowed,” George said.
Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty cleared the government’s stance on school uniform policies. “The school will have a uniform, and all should follow that. Anything that hides the uniform will cause difficulties. Parents and students should cooperate with the concerned school management. We should not create issues like other states over what we wear,” the minister stated.
Is the hijab row over?
The hijab row in Kerala is expected to abate soon. Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden said on Tuesday that the student’s father had agreed to allow his daughter to continue studying at the school, adhering to its rules.
“The child’s father, Anas, has come forward expressing his desire to continue his daughter’s education at the same school in accordance with the institution’s rules,” Eden said, as per PTI.
He said the decision was conveyed by the father during talks with the school authorities his and Congress leaders’ presence on Tuesday.
“This, in itself, is the strongest message of communal harmony our society can offer,” Eden said.
Speaking to PTI, the Congress MP accused the BJP and RSS of “trying to create communal divisions” by focusing on the school over the row.
“They tried to escalate the issue,” Eden said.
As per the news agency’s Congress sources, the district leadership intervened after the controversy was about to take a communal turn.
Senior Congress leader Dominic Presentation and DCC president Muhammed Shiyas reached out to the parents on Monday evening and later organised discussions with the school authorities and parents.
With inputs from agencies
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