Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu Urges Schools to Uphold Students’ Religious Rights

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has called on school authorities across the country to respect students' religious rights and allow them to freely practice their faith without hindrance.

Speaking at the 2025 Eid-ul-Fitr prayers with the Ambariyya Muslim sect in Tamale on Monday, March 31, the Tamale South MP emphasized that every Ghanaian child is entitled to the freedoms guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution, including the right to religious expression.

“As Ghana’s Minister of Education, I want to make it clear that no school has the authority to deny any Ghanaian child their right to practice their faith. Every educational institution must respect and uphold religious freedom,” he stated.

Iddrisu underscored the importance of religious inclusivity in schools, warning against policies that restrict students from observing their faith.

His remarks come in response to concerns raised by the Ghana Muslim Students Association on Saturday, March 29. The association criticized authorities at Saint Roses Senior High School in Akwatia, Eastern Region, for preventing Muslim students from going home to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, despite an official directive from the Ghana Education Service (GES) allowing them to do so.

The Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that all students, regardless of their religious beliefs, are treated with fairness and respect within the educational system.