A huge controversy has erupted following allegations that the principal of Lions School in Ankleshwar, Gujarat, forced Muslim girl students to remove their hijab during the Class 10 board exams. The incident, captured on CCTV, caused hours of tears as school officials forced her to remove her religious headscarf before entering the examination room to collect her report card.
Angry parents complained to the authorities, prompting District Education Officer Swatiraol to review the footage and order an inquiry. “The complaints qualified me,” said Raol, who left the process of replacing Principal Ilaben Surtia, the examination center’s superintendent. Suratia defended his actions, saying students’ faces should be visible as per examination rules.
However, Raoul objected to this, saying
there are no such guidelines for fashion. The Gujarat Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GSHSEB) has clarified that students can wear any “appropriate” attire for the exam, with female observers verifying their identity through photographs without having to remove the hijab . . .
The incident has reignited the debate on religious freedom and cultural sensitivity in educational institutions.
As the analysis continues, the debate highlights the challenges of maintaining constitutional standards of equality and ensuring inclusive spaces that respect faith and identity. Emotions run high, and stakeholders eagerly await the outcome of the investigation, hoping for a decision that protects students’ rights and dignity regardless of faith.
