Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir at Kisauni Primary School in Mombasa on May 20.Photo/Andrew Kasuku
Thursday, July 02, 2015
LEGISLATORS were yesterday outraged over reports that a secondary school principal suspended Muslim students for refusing to attend Mass.
They were responding to the petition by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir on behalf of parents and students at Bura Girls High School.
The petition — debated in the House — says 36 non-Catholic students hid in a store to avoid attending mass on June 21 as directed by the principal.
Nassir said the students were subsequently suspended for two weeks. “The principal suspended the students at 5pm and did not put into consideration the risk involved.
Most of the students reside outside Taita Taveta county where the school is located,” he said. Nassir said the school rules state all students have freedom of worship.
The principal directed all students to attend mass, whether they are Catholic or not. “Muslim students are not given adequate time to break their daylong fast nor perform their obligated prayers.
They are required to go back to class for evening preps together with their non-Muslim counterparts,” Nassir said. Majority leader Aden Duale led the MPs in demanding action against the principal.
He said her actions violated the freedom of worship. Minority whip Jakoyo Midiwo said schools must recognise that they are no longer religious sponsored. Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime asked the Education Committee to ensure there is a clear policy on the role of religion in schools.