Some high-achieving students suddenly began arriving late to school. They were warned, fined, and reported to parents. Nonetheless, their newly adopted behaviour remained unchanged. Over time, the number of latecomers increased, making the change conspicuous. Later, a common thread was discovered: they were all Christians.

Actually, religiously discriminatory things were included as an essential part of the morning assembly. The recitation of the Holy Quran, the offering of Na'at, and the choral recitation of invocations Islamised the assembly session expected to be all inclusive. Sometimes, teachers, without ascertaining the reason and reality, punished them for not joining the choral prayers.

The marginalisation became more intolerable when a teacher cum preacher daily asked about the regular offering of five prayers. He asked the students who hadn't completed the count to raise their hands. Some mischievous students would point out the minority students for not raising hands, forcing them to reveal their hitherto unknown religious identity.........

© The Express Tribune