British Watchdog To Question Schoolgirls On Hijab
Close X
Friday, January 10, 2025
ADVT 
International

British Watchdog To Question Schoolgirls On Hijab

IANS, 20 Nov, 2017 12:17 PM
    Britain's schools watchdog today announced that its inspectors will question primary schoolchildren on the decision to wear garments of faith like the hijab.
     
    The move follows concerns that girls as young as four are being forced to wear the Muslim headscarf to school.
     
    Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman fears that schools may be in breach of equality laws if young girls were required to wear religious garments while boys were not, The Sunday Times reported.
     
    "In seeking to address these concerns, inspectors will talk to girls who wear such garments to ascertain why they do so in the school," Spielman said.
     
    Spielman has also called on parents and the public to complain to head-teachers if they think schools are not treating girls and boys equally. If the school does not take the complaint seriously, the complainants should go directly to Ofsted, she says.
     
    A Sunday Times survey revealed that nearly a fifth (18 per cent) of 800 state primary schools in 11 regions of England list the hijab as part of their uniform policy, mostly as an optional item.
     
     
    One of the country's top state primary schools, St. Stephen's School in east London, revealed it had banned the hijab for girls under eight last year, despite protests by parents and intends to ban it for girls under 11 from September 2018.
     
    "There is no requirement for girls to wear the hijab until puberty. It is not appropriate in a primary school," said Neena Lall, head-teacher of the school where most pupils are from Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi backgrounds.
     
    The Ofsted chief announced plans to evaluate the hijab policy in schools after meeting British Muslim women and secular campaigners who are calling for a ban on the wearing of hijabs in primary schools. Some fear the rise of the classroom hijab is a sign of Islamic conservatism asserting itself in the UK.
     
    "Covering of young girls is often the first sign of young people being treated unequally. This often leads to girls being pulled out of swimming lessons, dance classes or other creative lessons," said Amina Lone, a former Labour party parliamentary candidate who was among those at the recent Oftsed meeting.
     
    The UK's Department for Education said that it was up to schools to set their own uniform policies.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Pakistan Is 'Sham Democracy': UK, US Academics

    Pakistan Is 'Sham Democracy': UK, US Academics
    On July 28, a five-member Supreme Court bench disqualified 67-year-old Sharif for dishonesty in the Panama Papers case verdict. The apex court ruled that corruption cases be filed against him and his children, forcing the embattled leader out of office.

    Pakistan Is 'Sham Democracy': UK, US Academics

    Indian-American Physician Hiral Tipirneni Announces Congressional Bid

    Indian-American Physician Hiral Tipirneni Announces Congressional Bid
    An Indian-American physician from Arizona has announced that she will run for the US House of Representatives in the 2018 General Election.

    Indian-American Physician Hiral Tipirneni Announces Congressional Bid

    Meera Dalal suicide: Indian-Origin Mom Wants Action Over Daughter's Suicide in UK

    Meera Dalal suicide: Indian-Origin Mom Wants Action Over Daughter's Suicide in UK
    Daksha Dalal wants Leicestershire Police to hand over any evidence they hold so her family can consider a private prosecution over the death of 25-year-old Meera Dalal in February last year.

    Meera Dalal suicide: Indian-Origin Mom Wants Action Over Daughter's Suicide in UK

    Harinder Dhaliwal Of Brampton, Ont. Sentenced To 20 Years In US Prison For $130m Drug Ring

    Harinder Dhaliwal Of Brampton, Ont. Sentenced To 20 Years In US Prison For $130m Drug Ring
    Dhaliwal, who was arrested in Canada in 2014, was among a group of at least six other people indicted on charges related to distribution and exportation of large amounts of cocaine and marijuana between 2006 and 2011.

    Harinder Dhaliwal Of Brampton, Ont. Sentenced To 20 Years In US Prison For $130m Drug Ring

    Gurdwaras In Barcelona Lend A Helping Hand To Terror Attack Victims

    Gurdwaras In Barcelona Lend A Helping Hand To Terror Attack Victims
    Harjinder S Kukreja, a Sikh man from Punjab, took to Twitter to inform people that Gurdwaras in Barcelona were offering help to those who are in need.

    Gurdwaras In Barcelona Lend A Helping Hand To Terror Attack Victims

    Finland Attack: At Least 2 Dead, Several Injured As Man Goes On Stabbing Spree, Suspect Held

    Finland Attack: At Least 2 Dead, Several Injured As Man Goes On Stabbing Spree, Suspect Held
    At least eight people have been hospitalised and one person is dead following the stabbings in the Finnish city of Turku, the city's hospital told local news agency STT.

    Finland Attack: At Least 2 Dead, Several Injured As Man Goes On Stabbing Spree, Suspect Held