MP government derecognizes school over hijab-wearing girls’ posters

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh government has derecognized the registration of Ganga Jamuna Higher Secondary School in Damoh, where a hijab controversy erupted a couple of days back.
An order in this regard was issued by the district education department on Friday evening.
In its notification, the education department said the decision has been taken based on the findings of a team which inspected the school.
During the inspection, several flaws were found in the school, including in potable water, bathrooms for girl students, and many more.
“Ganga Jamuna School in Damoh has been found not complying with the norms set by the state education department, and therefore a decision has been taken to derecognize its registration with immediate effect,” read the notification, which, however, did not mention the hijab controversy.
The school landed in a controversy on Tuesday when it pasted on its wall a poster congratulating its board exam toppers.
Using the pictures of the same poster, various right-wing outfits, including the VHP and ABVP, alleged that non-Muslim girl students were forced to wear hijab as seen in their pictures.
There were also allegations that the students were made to sing verses penned by Muhammad Iqbal.
Following this, Damoh District Collector Mayank Agrawal constituted a high-powered committee to probe the allegations leveled against the school.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “I came to know about our daughters being forced to come to the school with their heads covered. I want to warn everyone that such acts won’t be tolerated in MP. Only the education policy implemented by the Narendra Modi-led government will be applicable in the state. Any school which teaches anything which isn’t in line with the New Education Policy or forces its girl students to wear a scarf or anything else to cover their head will not be allowed to operate in MP.”