A muslim teacher has been axed after she insisted on wearing a veil to teach young children. Aishah Azmi, 24, was asked to take it off in class after pupils said they found English lessons hard to understand because they could not see her lips move.
The junior school in Dewsbury, West Yorks, said she could wear her veil in corridors and the staff room - but must remove it when teaching. Angry Miss Azmi refused, claiming the veil was part of her cultural identity, and was suspended.
A council source said yesterday: "It is ridiculous. How can you teach English to young children with a veil over your face?
"The children themselves were complaining. It is about what's best for the children."
And the Muslim Council of Britain said Miss Azmi was wrong to insist on covering her face. Spokesman Dr Reefat Drabu said that in the presence of young children Muslim women were not even required to wear a headscarf, let alone a veil.
Miss Azmi has now taken education bosses at Kirklees Council to an employment tribunal. It will rule on her case in a fortnight.
Many of the 529 boys and girls aged seven to 11 at Headfield Church of England Junior are from ethnic backgrounds where English is not the first language. The school says that because of this it is essential the children are provided with easily-understandable English lessons. Council education spokesman Jim Dodds said: "This is nothing to do with religion. We accepted the veil could be worn anywhere else in school but not in the classroom." |