25 September 2014

The niqab is no reason to deny a girl an education

A school in Camden has barred a pupil for wearing a veil. This is not how a liberal education should work.

This week, it emerged that a 16-year-old girl has been barred from an outstanding London state school because she insists on wearing the niqab, or full-face covering. Camden School for Girls is famous for turning out strong-minded young women but says it can’t teach this one due to an established policy of challenging “inappropriate dress which offends public decency or which does not allow teacher-student interactions”. Hundreds have already signed a petition protesting that what you wear “does not affect anyone else”.

[TOP RATED COMMENT 2068 votes] No-one is denying her an education. She is being asked to abide by a dress-code which applies to all students, to aid identification and allow communication.

Why should she be exempted?

[SECOND 1279v] The full face veil is a political statement, not a religious one.

[THIRD 1172v] "the school is stupid" No, the school is quite sensible. It expects pupils to abide by its dress-code. A stupid school would pander to people like you and her.

[FOURTH 1023v] A Niqab has no place in a liberal education system, there should be no masks within equality.

[FIFTH 933v] The full face covering has no place in a modern secular society.

[SIXTH 848v] "A school in Camden has barred a pupil for wearing a veil." Not quite. The school barred her after she repeatedly disobeyed school rules which prohibit inappropriate dress that does not allow teacher-student interaction.

Seems perfectly reasonable. I assume if she and her parents decide she is able to obey the rules, she can continue her education. [Guardian Cif] Read more