School Heads Warned Against Discriminating Learners On Religious Grounds.
School administrators have been warned against violating students’ religious rights during admissions.
According to Education PS Julius Jwan, some schools use religion to either deny admission or expel students in their institutions.
It has been noted that in the country some school principals or head teachers usually fail to admit new students due to religious differences.
PS Julius Jwan yesterday said with a lot of concern where he warned heads of institions against religious discrimination and said that all students or pupils should be admitted in any institutions regardless of their religious background.
He warned that the ministry of education will take a serious action to the school management found culpable.
PS Jwan also added that some school Heads violates the student rights by forcing other students to cope with their own believes and not students belief.
“These forms of biases should be avoided as much as possible to ensure smooth running of school calenders and routines”, PS Jwan said.
According to PS Jwan each and every student has a right to choose his or her preferred religion and therefore that freedom should be upheld in any school as far as the education act of 2013 is concerned.
He cited the prohibition on students wearing religious attire such as hijab and turbans, as well as the requirement that students take Islamic Religious Education, Christian Religious Education, and Hindu Religious Education is against the sovereign constitution of Kenya.
Ps cited other religious violations such as denying students the opportunity to observe religious rites and prayers, failing to provide worship rooms or spaces, and forcing students to participate in religious activities that go against their beliefs.
PS further said that the constitution recognizes that Kenyans come from diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds, and the law expounds on the importance of respecting these differences.
