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Tana Toraja school principal apologizes for hijab ban, incident resolved peacefully
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Tana Toraja school principal apologizes for hijab ban, incident resolved peacefully

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • The head of a junior high school in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, apologized for prohibiting female students from wearing hijabs.
  • The school principal, Naomi, expressed deep regret and promised the incident would not be repeated.
  • Despite the apology, the principal will still undergo an official examination as a civil servant, while educational activities continue normally.

The head of SMP Negeri 2 Bonggakaradeng in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, has publicly apologized for prohibiting female students from wearing the hijab at school. Principal Naomi expressed her profound regret to parents and students, acknowledging her mistake and promising that such an incident would not occur again. "I apologize to the students' parents and also to my students. Once again, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I am only human and not immune to problems," Naomi stated.

I apologize to the students' parents and also to my students. Once again, I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I am only human and not immune to problems.

— NaomiThe principal of SMP Negeri 2 Bonggakaradeng, apologizing for prohibiting students from wearing hijabs.

Naomi assured that she would not repeat her actions and would refrain from making such jokes in the future. "I promise not to repeat it. I will not joke like that again," she said. This apology came after the incident sparked concern and discussion within the community.

I promise not to repeat it. I will not joke like that again.

— NaomiThe principal of SMP Negeri 2 Bonggakaradeng, assuring the incident would not recur.

Despite the apology, the principal will still face an official examination as a state civil servant. The Head of the Tana Toraja Education Office, Andarias Lebang, confirmed that while Naomi's apology is noted, the process will continue according to regulations. "The person concerned has apologized, but that does not mean the process is over here. As a PNS (state civil servant), the principal still has a personnel mechanism to follow according to the applicable provisions," Andarias explained.

The person concerned has apologized, but that does not mean the process is over here. As a PNS (state civil servant), the principal still has a personnel mechanism to follow according to the applicable provisions.

— Andarias LebangHead of the Tana Toraja Education Office, explaining that the principal will still undergo an official examination.

Lebang emphasized that the learning and teaching process at SMP Negeri 2 Bonggakaradeng remains normal and urged that no further bullying occur as a result of the incident. "This incident must be a lesson for all parties so that it does not happen again," he added. Representatives from the Tana Toraja Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB), including Pdt Yakob Sampe Rante, highlighted the region's high level of religious tolerance, urging the community to maintain harmony, especially in educational settings, to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment for all children.

This incident must be a lesson for all parties so that it does not happen again.

— Andarias LebangHead of the Tana Toraja Education Office, emphasizing the need for learning from the incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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