A Lusaka businessman has sued LICEF School in the Lusaka High Court, alleging that the institution unfairly deregistered his daughter for reporting to school six days late.
Ashraf Lulat, a businessman and resident of Lusaka, has filed the lawsuit on behalf of his 15-year-old daughter, was a pupil at LICEF School before her deregistration.
LICEF School, the defendant in the case, is an Islamic educational institution operating under the Lusaka Islamic Cultural and Educational Foundation,duly registered with the Ministry of Education.
Lulat stated that in December 2024, he traveled to India with his family, including his daughter during the school holiday. The holiday was scheduled to end on January 6, 2025, marking the official date for pupils to return to school.
However, Lulat claims that unforeseen circumstances delayed their return to Zambia.
He alleges that he informed LICEF School authorities about the delay, explaining that flights were fully booked. According to him, the school expressed displeasure at the request for late reporting.
Despite the school’s stance, Lulat and his family returned to Zambia on January 9, 2025.
The girl reported back to school on January 12, 2025, six days after the official reopening date.
Shortly afterward, Lulat states that he received a letter from LICEF School informing him that his daughter had been deregistered.
Lulat appealed the decision, arguing that the delay was beyond his daughter’s control.
However, on January 16, 2025, LICEF School informed him that his appeal had been unsuccessful.
He later escalated the matter to the school’s Executive Committee, which upheld the deregistration.
Through his legal representatives, Lulat formally requested the school to reconsiderr its decision, but he claims the institution has refused, neglected, or ignored the request.
He also alleges that other pupils who reported late were given warnings or other forms of punishment rather than being deregistered.
According to Lulat, more than 30 other learners, including a Pakistani national who reported to school over a month late, were allowed to continue their education after receiving lesser disciplinary measures.
He contends that the school’s disciplinary rules do not list deregistration as a penalty for late reporting.
Lulat claims that his daughter has suffered emotional distress due to her deregistration, affecting both her well-being and that of her family.
He alleges that she has experienced mental anguish, refused to eat at times, and wandered away from home.
Efforts by elders from the Muslim community to mediate with the school have reportedly been unsuccessful.
Lulat argues that LICEF School is the only institution in Zambia offering Islamic education in the manner it does, including gender-separated learning environments.
He believes that his daughter’s deregistration is a violation of the Education Act and the Zambian Constitution.
Lulat is seeking a court declaration that his daughter’s deregistration was unlawful.
He is requesting an order compelling LICEF School to reinstate his daughter, as well as damages for emotional distress.
he also seeks an injunction preventing the school from deregistering pupils for late reporting unless explicitly stated in school regulations.
