The Senegalese authorities have issued new regulations lifting the ban on wearing religious symbols in schools, coinciding with the start of the new school year.
Senegal News Agency reported on Wednesday that the Ministry of Education released a decision on Tuesday outlining guidelines for educational institutions.
Article 5 of the decision emphasizes respect for religious beliefs, allowing the wearing of religious symbols such as hijabs, crosses, and sacred beads, while maintaining clear student identification in school premises and during educational activities.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko sparked controversy in August by warning institutions against prohibiting the wearing of the hijab in schools, which angered the National Secular Council, representing Catholic associations in Senegal.
The debate over wearing the hijab is not new in Senegal. In 2019, 22 Muslim girls were barred from attending classes at the prestigious Catholic school, St. Jeanne d’Arc Institute (ISJA) in Dakar, for wearing the hijab at the start of the school year in September.
They were later allowed back after a settlement between the school and Senegalese authorities, following intervention from the Vatican.
