Women teachers have been ordered to remove their veils when teaching in the classroom in the majority Catholic country of the Philippines.
It is the latest twist in the ongoing controversy over the wearing of the religious garment, that sparked a riot in the French capital Paris on Friday.
An order was sent out by the Filipino Government yesterday instructing female teachers to take off their religious veils in a move that was claimed would build a better relationship between teachers and pupils.
Education secretary Armin Luistro said it was part of reforms designed to make schools more sensitive to religion. Muslim schoolgirls will still be allowed to wear the veil in schools as well as 'appropriate clothing' in gym class.
But while female Muslim schoolteachers can wear the veil outside class, they have been told to remove the veil during lessons so they can interact better with students.
The order stated: 'Once the teacher is in the classroom, she is requested to remove the veil.'
It added the move would help aid 'proper identification of the teachers by their pupils, thus promoting better teacher-pupil relationship'.
It would also help the teaching of languages, where 'lip formation' plays a role in pronouncing certain letters.
The Government’s Office of Muslim Affairs said it agreed with the education department’s measures, although it had not yet received a copy of the order. » | Stuart Woledge | Wednesday, July 24, 2013
