The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Gujarat): In Bharuch district’s Ankleshwar town, controversy erupted at Lions School, a private educational institution, over allegations that girl students were compelled to remove their hijabs before sitting for a Class X mathematics examination. The incident, which reportedly caused distress among the students involved, prompted immediate action from the Gujarat education department, resulting in the removal of the exam center administrator, Ilaben Suratiya, who also serves as the principal of the school.
Parents of the affected students brought the matter to the attention of the District Education Officer Swati Raol, leading to a meeting where their concerns were addressed. The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB), responsible for conducting the Class X exams, clarified that there are no dress code rules for examinees, allowing them to wear any “decent” attire for the exams.
A concerned parent recounted the emotional toll the incident took on his daughter, highlighting the need for accountability and action against those responsible. The school, designated as one of the examination centers by the GSHSEB, is required to have CCTV coverage of all examination rooms, a protocol that inadvertently became central to the controversy. Footage showing women supervisors instructing two Muslim girl students to remove their hijabs substantiated the parents’ claims.
In defense, Suratiya argued that the hijab removal was necessitated by the need for clear facial identification in the video recordings, a measure intended to avoid exam disruptions. However, this explanation did not suffice, leading to Raol’s decision to replace Suratiya as the exam center administrator and initiate an investigation into the incident.
GSHSEB’s Exam Director M K Raval reaffirmed the board’s stance on attire, emphasizing that students are free to wear any attire deemed appropriate and that identity verification procedures are in place to accommodate all students without infringing on personal or religious attire choices.
This incident has ignited a broader dialogue on educational policies, religious freedoms, and administrative practices within Gujarat’s schooling system, underscoring the delicate balance between regulatory compliance and respecting individual rights.
