by BENGALURU: Hijab-wearing students of at least two Karnataka institutions, including 13 Shivamogga girls who were to write a Class X pre-board test, on Monday chose to skip school rather than take off their headscarves before entering classrooms as high school sections reopened statewide after a break forced by the dress-code row.
Government High School in Shivamogga had allotted a separate room for Muslim girls to remove their headscarves but 13 Class X students insisted that they be allowed to wear hijab while writing the exam, officials said.
Deputy director of public instruction, MN Ramesh, visited the institution to convince the girls to adhere to the dress code, but they walked out. “The high court is yet to issue an order but the school authorities are asking us to remove our hijab,” said a student, Alia Mehat. She added: “If they continue to force us…we will drop out of school.” The school, having 160 students across classes VIII to X, reported sparse attendance overall. Thirty students of Karnataka Public School at Nellihudikeri in Kodagu district, too, returned home without attending classes when they were not let in with their heads covered. The students’ parents said they would wait for the HC’s “final order” before taking a call on what to do.
In Mysuru, three students of a school on the outskirts were barred from entering the classroom after they refused to remove their hijab. Video footage of students being asked to remove their hijab at the gate to a private school in Mandya went viral on social media, but no untoward incident was reported.
In Udupi’s Government PU College for Girls, the epicentre of the protests against the hijab ban, classes resumed in the high school without any disruption. A police contingent kept watch throughout the day.
Most schools in the state reported a good turnout of students in classes IX and X. Enforcement of the HC’s interim order not to allow “religious clothing” inside classrooms was confined to schools and colleges where students are required to wear the stipulated uniform.
Education department officials said most students conformed to the court’s order.
At the 10-day legislature session, which began on Monday, Congress members attended the session wearing black armbands to protest the hijab row and collapse of Constitutional values. Kaneez Fathima attended the session in hijab. BJP MLC DS Arun turned up with saffron shawls. on their shoulders.
Government High School in Shivamogga had allotted a separate room for Muslim girls to remove their headscarves but 13 Class X students insisted that they be allowed to wear hijab while writing the exam, officials said.
Deputy director of public instruction, MN Ramesh, visited the institution to convince the girls to adhere to the dress code, but they walked out. “The high court is yet to issue an order but the school authorities are asking us to remove our hijab,” said a student, Alia Mehat. She added: “If they continue to force us…we will drop out of school.” The school, having 160 students across classes VIII to X, reported sparse attendance overall. Thirty students of Karnataka Public School at Nellihudikeri in Kodagu district, too, returned home without attending classes when they were not let in with their heads covered. The students’ parents said they would wait for the HC’s “final order” before taking a call on what to do.
In Mysuru, three students of a school on the outskirts were barred from entering the classroom after they refused to remove their hijab. Video footage of students being asked to remove their hijab at the gate to a private school in Mandya went viral on social media, but no untoward incident was reported.
In Udupi’s Government PU College for Girls, the epicentre of the protests against the hijab ban, classes resumed in the high school without any disruption. A police contingent kept watch throughout the day.
Most schools in the state reported a good turnout of students in classes IX and X. Enforcement of the HC’s interim order not to allow “religious clothing” inside classrooms was confined to schools and colleges where students are required to wear the stipulated uniform.
Education department officials said most students conformed to the court’s order.
At the 10-day legislature session, which began on Monday, Congress members attended the session wearing black armbands to protest the hijab row and collapse of Constitutional values. Kaneez Fathima attended the session in hijab. BJP MLC DS Arun turned up with saffron shawls. on their shoulders.
