Wearing veils in class ‘to be discouraged’

STUDENTS should be discouraged from wearing veils which cover the face in classes, recommends the Government in uniform guidelines to schools.

However, the question of what can or can not be worn by students has been left open to each of the country’s 4,000 schools under the recommendations being issued by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe and Integration Minister Conor Lenihan.

They are non-specific in relation to any particular faiths or garments, but the accompanying statement by Mr O’Keeffe did refer to the Muslim hijab headscarf which has been the subject of debate in recent months.