Germany's family minister has defended the use of the burkini in schools, saying that the swimsuits could help Muslim girls integrate.
Earlier this month, a school in western Germany sparked debate after offering burkinis to students who would otherwise not attend swim classes.
The burkini has been a controversial topic across Europe.
The French city of Cannes was last week ordered to repay a fine given to a woman wearing the garment.
The issue began when a school in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) bought 20 burkinis - paid for by private donations - for use by its female students, according to the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.
Fifteen girls who would normally have refused to attend mixed swimming lessons have since been able to take part thanks to the swimwear, which covers the whole body except the face, hands and feet.
The school's decision caused outrage among conservative lawmakers in Germany, where over a million refugees, mostly from the Middle East and Afghanistan, have arrived in recent years. [BBC] Read more
