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 different faiths to worship, such accommodation does not exempt students from adhering to the schools’ dress codes.
His statement follows a Supreme Court order directing Wesley Girls’ Senior High School to respond to a legal action filed by private lawyer Shafic Osman, who claims that Muslim students are being prevented from practising certain aspects of their religion.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Mr. Bodza referenced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) developed after extensive consultations between the Peace Council and heads of mission schools across various denominations. He said the MoU provides clear guidelines to address recurring concerns about religious practice.
He noted that the MoU explicitly prohibits students from constructing their own religious structures on campus.
“Mission-based schools may provide spaces for worship to accommodate diverse religious beliefs, promoting tolerance and values that do not interfere with teaching and learning. This does not create an obligation for students to build special places of worship,” he explained.
“Some students think it is their right to have a separate place of worship. Schools have reported cases where students wanted to build a mosque in an Assemblies of God school. Attending a mission school does not mean you can build your own chapel or mosque. In terms of dress code, the agreed common dress code in the school must be respected,” he added.
Mr. Bodza also said the MoU provides guidance for students who wish to fast for religious purposes, requiring them to notify school authorities and undergo counselling.
He emphasised that the agreement is part of the Peace Council’s broader effort to help mission schools maintain their core ethos while allowing students to practise their faith in ways that do not disrupt academic activities.
