British Government Will Allow Its Schools To Ban Islamic Veils

LONDON — The British government issued new guidelines on school uniforms yesterday, supporting authorities wishing to use security and educational reasons to ban Muslim students from wearing a full-face veil.

Head teachers "should make every effort to accommodate social, religious, or medical requirements of individual pupils," said Jim Knight, minister for schools. However, "the needs of safety, security, and effective learning in the school must always take precedence."

Islamic dress has been debated across Europe for the past several years. Britain began to focus on it in October when House of Commons leader Jack Straw said he'd prefer women didn't wear full veils as they cause "separation," while Prime Minister Blair said the garments raised a broader question of how Muslims integrate with the rest of society.

Mr. Knight said schools should consult parents and the local community before deciding on a uniform policy, according to a statement from the Department for Education and Skills, DfES.

Head teachers have always had the power to set their own uniform policy, and the new guidelines clarify it's within their right to take action if they feel learning, security, and safety, are being compromised, a spokesman for the DfES said.

In February, a school in Buckinghamshire, which was told it had unlawfully excluded a 12-year-old girl for wearing full Islamic dress in the classroom, won its appeal at the House of Lords. The high court sided with her teachers, who had argued the outfit made communication difficult and hampered learning.

Teachers need to be able to identify pupils clearly and gage if they're taking in a lesson, the DfES spokesman said.

David Willetts, education spokesman for the opposition Conservative Party, said in an interview he supported uniforms. He also said the classroom can offer Muslim girls an escape from the demands of their community.