FRIDAY BULLETIN—The Parliamentary Education Committee has begun to probe cases of religious discrimination in public schools in the country.
The committee chaired by Murang’a MP Sabina Chege has begun collecting public views concerning the matter and has called on students and parents who have faced religious discrimination in public schools to make submissions to the committee.
Religious bodies have also been given the chance to forward their submissions to the Sabina led team in eradicating religious discrimination in educational institutions.
The probe was prompted by a petition filed by Mvita Member of Parliament Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir who sought parliament to investigate the suspension of 38 Muslim students of Bura Girls High School in Taita Taveta.
The girls were suspended in June for two weeks by the school principal Assumpta Munyao after they refused to attend church service while observing fast during the month of Ramadhan. The case is currently before the courts.
“As MPs from all faiths, we have agreed to collect submissions and aggrieved cases for necessary action. We hope this matter can be resolved so that all students in public schools can access education without being discriminated against on religious and other grounds,” Abdulswamad said.
Muslims leaders are on the record on numerous occasions decrying religious discrimination in government sponsored schools lamenting that Muslim students are the most aggrieved and their constitutional rights are trampled on.
Other than Bura Girls, another case of religious discrimination that is before the courts, is the appeal case challenging the ban on Muslims girls in St Paul Kiwanjani secondary school in Isiolo to wear the Hijab.
Once the committee probes such incidences, the findings will be tabled before the National Assembly to be debated by Members of Parliament and further action taken.
The committee revealed that submissions can be made to ODM Nominated MP Zuleikha Hassan through her assistant Ms. Asia Suleiman on 0713630910 or email honzuleikha2013@gmail.com.
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