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Mandatory hijabs at West Sumatra state school ‘tip of iceberg’
Similar mandatory hijab policies have been identified in other provinces across the country.
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Female high school students stand next to a school's gate at a high school in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara on Jan. 18, 2020. (Antara/Ahmad Subaidi)
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recent uproar surrounding a state high school in Padang, West Sumatra that requires all female students, including non-Muslims, to wear a hijab has led to concerns that this might not be an isolated case, with other schools across the country implementing similar rules.
The issue came to light after a female non-Muslim student of SMK 2 state vocational high school in Padang refused to obey her school’s policy to wear a hijab during an online class.
The student, identified only as JCH, was not the only one, as other non-Muslim students also refused to adhere to the rule. The school reportedly punished them for refusing to don the head covering, prompting protests from some parents.
A video showing JCH’s parents going to the school to protest the rule went viral on social media last week, sparking debate among Indonesian internet users.
The school’s headmaster Rusmadi apologized to the parents for the incident and later revoked the punishment for the students.
Read also: Jakarta teacher draws ire for discrimination against non-Muslim students
West Sumatra Education Agency head Adib Al Fikri said the city administration had issued a bylaw in 2005 requiring all female students to wear a hijab while studying in schools in Padang.
