A CBSE-affiliated school in Kerala, run by the Latin Catholic Church, has announced a two-day holiday after a dispute broke out over a student wearing a hijab, which the school does not allow as part of its dress code.The school authorities said they decided to close school on Monday and Tuesday to calm the situation and reduce stress for both students and staff.

In a letter to parents dated October 12, Principal Sr Heleena Alby mentioned that several teachers and non-teaching staff had taken leave due to the tense atmosphere. She did not directly mention the hijab issue but referred to a situation involving a student who came wearing clothes that were not part of the approved school uniform.

The issue began when a Muslim girl claimed that teachers were stopping her from wearing a hijab on the school premises. According to her, she was asked to remove her hijab at the school gate and was only allowed to attend the morning assembly after taking it off. She also alleged that teachers made rude comments and called her arrogant because she skipped a school event.

Reacting to the controversy, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty said that schools should not interfere too much in what students wear, but also reminded that every school has a uniform policy that students are expected to follow. He said that while religious beliefs should be respected, adding extra clothing that changes the uniform could cause problems. He also said that Kerala should avoid the kind of violent clashes over dress codes that have happened in other states.

Meanwhile, BJP Kerala Vice President Shone George claimed that political groups were using the situation for their own gain. He accused SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) of trying to create trouble by pressuring the school authorities.

According to him, around 117 Muslim students already study in the school and follow the dress code without issue. He alleged that SDPI leaders came to the school and threatened the staff, which scared them into declaring the holiday. The situation has sparked a bigger debate about religious freedom, school rules, and political influence in educational spaces. As of now, the school remains closed while authorities try to find a peaceful solution.