There was tension Thursday afternoon at St Augustine 3 Primary School when some Standard 8 Muslim female learners were sent back by school authorities for refusing to remove their hijab during capturing of Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) IDs.

President for Mangochi Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) Symon Maziya confirmed that the incidence took place. Maziya says the school authorities wanted all female learners to remove their hijab before they could be captured for their Maneb IDs for next year’s examinations.

However the arrangement did not go down well with some of the ‘pupils’ who reported the matter to their parents.

After consultations with Maneb officials, Maziya says all the female Muslim learners who wear hijabs were finally allowed to have their face captured while wearing hijab.