Face veil banned for Arabiyya students

Students wearing face veils in Arabiyya School have been asked not to do so.

The incident of students going to study wearing face veils has come to light in the past. In December, the school had sent a request to the education ministry seeking its opinion to take a decision on the matter.

The request was submitted to the education ministry by Hussain Saeed, principal of Iskandhar School who took over Arabiyya School in an interim capacity in November.

The education ministry concluded that face veil was not part of the school's dress code and advised that going to school wearing face veils is prohibited.

The directive came into effect a few days ago.

"Now, the children are told that they will not be allowed to enter the class with their faces covered," said a parent who is part of the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

According to the parent, only a handful of students in classes 11-12 wear face veils.

"Unlike those who usually wear it, the students only cover their mouths and noses with a piece of cloth," she said.

There are a lot of complaints from parents about the new principal. These include:

"We have our concerns. Even if to pick up students, now parents can't enter the school premises. Can't talk to the management," the PTA member said.

Hussain Saeed took charge of Arabiyya School after his predecessor Mohammad Shujau Abdul Raheem was transferred to another agency.