Education Ministry denies rumored plan to make hijab mandatory in schools

Students entering Imaadhudhin School. (Sun Photo/Maahil Athif)

Education Ministry issued a statement on Monday denying rumors the government plans to make hijab mandatory in Maldivian schools.

The statement comes after social media posts alleging that Education Ministry is drafting a paper for the consideration of the Cabinet, to make hijab mandatory in all schools starting March next year.

The posts were attached with the purported paper.

The paper reads that when the government begins officially implementing a moral dress code, it should also begin enforcing a hijab policy in schools.

A spokesperson from the Education Ministry told Sun that the posts were “fake news.”

An additional post, which says that clothing that do not meet community standards will be banned starting March, as part of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration’s ‘Hafuthaa 14’ roadmap, has also been rejected by Health Minister Abdulla Khaleel as “fake news.”