MAIL ON SUNDAY: Schools are being urged to rearrange tests, cancel swimming lessons and stop sex education to avoid offending Muslims during Ramadan.
Head teachers in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with the guidance for treatment of Muslim pupils who may still be fasting when the new term starts in September.
But critics dismissed the advice as ‘over-zealous’ bureaucracy and said all pupils would be forced to miss out on activities as a result.
During Ramadan, all Muslims who have reached puberty avoid eating or drinking between sunrise and sunset to encourage discipline and self-restraint.
To help them with this, Stoke council advises schools not to schedule exams or hold parents’ meetings and social events after school.
They should also avoid swimming lessons because some parents and pupils consider the risk of swallowing water too great.
It even advises schools to cancel sex education because Muslims are expected to avoid sexual thoughts while fasting.
Although the guidance was specifically drawn up to help Muslims, it will affect every pupil in the 89 schools in the Potteries. Council forces schools to rearrange exams and cancel lessons to avoid offending Muslims during Ramadan >>> Claire Ellicott | Sunday, July 11, 2010
