Upholding the students’ right to dress in accordance with their religious beliefs, the court on October 29 issued an injunction against the school’s ban on hijabs, in response to a complaint filed by 20 parents.
The parents said their daughters had been punished with the loss of behavioural-conduct points because they wore hijabs.
Located inside a Buddhist monastery in Pattani’s Muang district, Anuban Pattani School has regarded the Muslim head scarf as a violation of its dress code.
Its administrators cited a recent regulation from the Education Ministry requiring schools to enforce their dress codes.
The issue had been the subject of heated debate for months. In May, Deputy Education Minister Lt-General Surachet Chaiwong intervened to prevent the dress-code row from escalating.
The administrative court’s injunction could still be challenged.