The sight of a student wearing a hijab in a mission school may seem simple, but it raises complex questions in Ghanaian education: How can schools respect religious freedom while maintaining discipline? How do we accommodate faith in daily school life without creating disruption?
Experiences from Canada show that it is possible to strike a balance- schools there have crafted policies that allow students to exercise their religious rights, such as wearing religious attire or praying, while maintaining uniformity and order. The debate at Wesley Girls High School now challenges Ghana to find its own way of balancing rights, rules, and practical realities.
Religious Freedom and Constitutional Guarantees
Ghana’s Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the right to manifest one’s beliefs. This protection applies to all students, whether in public or mission schools. The challenge arises when manifestations of faith-such as wearing the hijab-intersect with the uniform policies and Christian ethos of mission schools.
Drawing on lessons from Canada, it becomes clear that religious accommodations in schools are feasible if they are reasonable, necessary, and proportionate. Canadian jurisprudence emphasizes that schools must make space for religious expression, but this must be harmonized with the legitimate interests of schools in maintaining order and uniformity. This demonstrates that rights can be protected without compromising institutional values.
Practical Challenges and the Question of Uniformity
Religious practices, particularly in Islam, extend beyond the hijab to include praying five times a day, performing ablutions, and wearing attire that covers the body fully. Allowing only certain practices, like wearing a hijab, while restricting others could be seen as discriminatory.
If Muslim students in a predominantly Christian school were permitted to perform ablutions or pray during lessons, similar accommodations could be requested by Rastafarians, Buddhists, or traditionalists. This could disrupt school routines and affect the uniformity essential to school management. Uniformity-ensuring all students wear the same uniform, attend assemblies together, and follow common schedules-is central to school discipline and smooth operations.
The dilemma becomes even more pronounced when considering strong adherents whose religious dress or practices conflict with the ethos of a mission school. Should a female Muslim student from a family in Sakaman, who wears full Islamic attire covering her face, hands, and legs, be allowed to attend a Christian mission school like Wesley Girls or St. Mary’s? Similarly, should a traditionalist student be permitted to attend barefoot or wear ritual beads as some Ga fetish priests do in formal settings?
These scenarios underscore the tension between operational feasibility and religious rights. Parents aware that their child’s faith might not align with a school’s ethos must consider schools that reflect their values. A practical approach is to allow mission schools to maintain their faith-based policies while the state provides secular schools, ensuring all students have options.
Sticking to the Constitutional Position
Despite these practical challenges, the Constitution remains the anchor. Any restriction on religious expression must be reasonable and proportionate. Uniformity and school discipline cannot justify blanket infringement on fundamental rights. Lessons from Canada show that schools can accommodate religious practices-through flexible dress codes or designated prayer times-without compromising discipline or institutional integrity.
Conclusion
The hijab debate at Wesley Girls is not just about dress; it is a test of how Ghanaian schools can reconcile constitutional freedoms with operational realities. By drawing on international examples like Canada, Ghana can develop policies that respect religious rights, uphold school discipline, and maintain institutional order. With thoughtful solutions, schools can create an environment that is inclusive, disciplined, and constitutionally sound.
By Seth Kwame Awuku
