Kochi: After mediation negotiations, the youngster's father agreed to abide by the school's uniform code, thus resolving the dispute surrounding a student who was refused permission to wear a hijab (headscarf) at a school in Kerala's Ernakulam district on Tuesday. In addition, the inquiry report from the education department suggested that the student be permitted to wear the hijab in accordance with her religious convictions.
The dispute started at the Catholic Church-run St Rita's Public School in Palluruthy when PM Anas, the father of a class 8 girl student, demanded that his daughter be permitted to wear the hijab in class. The school administration refused, citing the uniform code. The student's father and a few others allegedly caused a disturbance on the school's grounds, prompting authorities to decide to halt lessons on Monday and Tuesday.

Anas decided to respect the school's clothing code and assist in resolving the conflict after conciliation sessions between the girl's parents and school officials on Tuesday in front of Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden.
"My daughter and I have made the decision to follow the guidelines set forth by the school administration. I don't want this to become a problem for the entire community tomorrow. "I don't want to give communal outfits any space here," Anas said to reporters following the meeting.
There are "some forces operating in and around the school trying to create a communal divide," according to Congress MP Hibi Eden.

"The student's father, Anas, has stated that he wants his daughter to attend this school and adhere to its regulations. It is an excellent secularism message. He declared, "We will not permit any force to disturb the secular spirit of our soil."