The Deputy Director in charge of Conflict Management at the National Peace Council, Frank Wilson Bodza, has clarified that while mission schools may provide spaces for students of various faiths to worship, students are still required to adhere to the institutions’ dress codes.

His comments follow a Supreme Court directive to Wesley Girls’ Senior High School to respond to a lawsuit filed by private legal practitioner Shafic Osman, who alleges that Muslim students are restricted from practising certain aspects of their religion.

Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Wednesday, November 26, Mr. Bodza referred to an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed after the Peace Council engaged heads of mission schools across different religious denominations to address such issues.

He stated that the MoU clearly indicates that students are not allowed to construct their own religious structures on campus.

“Mission-base schools could make available space of worship in toleration of diverse religious believes hence encouraging an environment of religious tolerance, values which do not compete with teaching and learning. This does not create the obligation to build a special place of worship.

“Some students think it is their right to have a place of worship. Some schools complained to us that they had come to build a mosque in an Assemblies of God school. If you go to a mission school, I don’t think you need to go and build your chapel or your mosque there. In terms of dress code, it was agreed that the common dress code in the school should be respected,” he explained.

He added that the MoU also outlines guidelines for students who wish to fast for religious reasons, requiring them to seek permission and receive counselling.