It says efforts must be made to accommodate religious clothing, but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact.
It comes after a girl failed in a legal bid to overturn her school's niqab ban.
Islamic groups have been divided in their response - some "shocked" and others welcoming the guidance.
Headteachers' leaders have applauded the decision, saying that it would provide "clarity" and "reassurance" for schools.
The issue of religious dress has become an increasingly complicated one for schools in recent years, with a handful of high profile court cases over the right to wear a full veil.
A court victory by a Buckinghamshire school (which cannot be named for legal reasons) has prompted the updated guidance.
The school argued the veil made communication between teachers and pupils difficult and thus hampered learning.
Teachers needed to be able to tell if a pupil was enthusiastic, paying attention or even distressed but full-face veils prevented this, it said.
This position was upheld by the High Court - which refused to grant a judicial review - and is expected to form a key part of the guidance.
'Consult parents'
The guidance says schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and spot intruders.
"If a pupil's face is obscured for any reason the teacher may not be able to judge their engagement with learning or secure their participation in discussions and practical activities," it adds.
Schools minister Jim Knight said: "Schools should consult parents and the wider community when setting uniform policy.
"And while they should make every effort to accommodate social, religious or medical requirements of individual pupils, the needs of safety, security and effective learning in the school must always take precedence."
The head teacher of the Buckinghamshire school, who also cannot be named, said it would be very useful to have some clear guidance from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).
"It's not right that schools should have to be arguing this out case by case," she told the BBC News website.
"Obviously there's a trade-off between schools retaining autonomy over school uniform decisions, on the other hand we will have some very clear guidance from the DfES within which to work."
'Dismayed'
There were divided responses from the Muslim community.
The chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, Massoud Shadjareh, said he was "dismayed" by the DfES guidance.
"Successive ministers dealing with education issues have failed to give proper guidance when requested by human rights campaigners about schools' obligations regarding religious dress, including the head scarf.
"To now proceed to issue guidance against Muslim communities is simply shocking," he said.
But the Muslim Council of Britain's education spokesman, Tahir Alam, said that the new guidance did not "alter the position very much" and said "the vast majority of schools are able to solve these issues locally".
Dr Tag Hargey of the Muslim Education Centre welcomed the guidance.
"When you conceal the face, that actually not only dehumanises the person involved, but also creates a chasm, a gap, a bridge of non-understanding between communities and I think the sooner we can get rid of this veil, this face veiling, this face masking in Muslim societies across Britain, so much the better."
'Equality issue'
Ayshah Ishmael, a teacher at a Muslim girls' school in Preston who wears the niqab away from the classroom, told the BBC wearing the veil promoted equality.
She said: "You're judged for who you are and not what you are, so I think there are two arguments to the whole equality issue."
The DfES said it was not ordering or advising head teachers to ban the veil, simply confirming that they have the ability to do so if they wish, so long as they carry out proper consultation.
Association of School and College Leaders' general secretary Dr John Dunford said he was pleased the government is supporting school leaders in upholding school uniforms.
"Repeated and blatant breaches of uniform policy undermine the school ethos," he added.
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I just wanted to know your opinion on one specific thing...: What's your opinion on having the students take off the veil in the classrooms? Not in the school public areas. Just specifically the classroom.
Someone said to the Prophet, "Pray to God against the idolaters and curse them." The Prophet replied, "I have been sent to show mercy and have not been sent to curse." (Muslim)
The problem I would have is that some sisters view it as their religious obligation to wear the Niqab. So forcing such sisters to remove their niqab is tantamount to forcing them to remove something which they view as being obligatory.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
The problem I would have is that some sisters view it as their religious obligation to wear the Niqab. So forcing such sisters to remove their niqab is tantamount to forcing them to remove something which they view as being obligatory.
That's true. The only solution is an all girls school in that case. Do they have many of them in UK?
I believe home schooling might be another option too.
That's something where parents need to be highly involved in, if you want your daughter/child to have a good education. I don't know how many parents are capable of doing that.
That's very true, but it's the 'lesser of two evils', so to speak. I would say that obeying Allah is infinitely more important than having a 'good' education.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
That's very true, but it's the 'lesser of two evils', so to speak. I would say that obeying Allah is infinitely more important than having a 'good' education.
That's true. But it's not like they're being asked to take off their Hijaab.
People undermine education. I know so many children who go to Islamic school and when time comes to learn the actual sacred knowledge, they are slow in understanding etc. It's sad, because this could have been avoided. I believe there's a positive alternative to everything.
That's true. But it's not like they're being asked to take off their Hijaab.
Indeed, but remember there's a difference of opinion as to whether the Niqab is obligatory or not. I'm not qualified to draw conclusions from the evidences - Allah knows best. The point is that some sisters follow the opinion that it is obligatory. That then poses a serious problem for them.
format_quote Originally Posted by Rashad
People undermine education. I know so many children who go to Islamic school and when time comes to learn the actual sacred knowledge, they are slow in understanding etc. It's sad, because this could have been avoided. I believe there's a positive alternative to everything.
That really is sad.
I'm sure there always is an alternative for everything, even if it's not positive from our limited point of view. As Allah Jalla wa 'alaa mentions:
...and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. [2:216]
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
i agree with this, as said, its the exception to the general ruling, and there is an alternative, an all girls shcool or all girls section.
this will be a good thing for the future, as im sure Muslims will move toward making such schools eventually, and im more than sure that saudia arabia will have no problem in funding such projects, so theres to yaaaaaaa to all the right wingers who celebrate about this story.
That's very true, but it's the 'lesser of two evils', so to speak. I would say that obeying Allah is infinitely more important than having a 'good' education.
in this country you can still get educated and not disobey Allah and getting a good education is big part of being a muslim.
what our ummah lacks is powerful and highly educated people. sure we have some corrupt officials in our parliment but i could hardly call them muslim.
the problem is that muslims either pursue knowledge of islam or western education, with each party thinking the other is wasting its time. we should be be producing Mumin at the forefront of both
in this country you can still get educated and not disobey Allah and getting a good education is big part of being a muslim
But if the Niqab is banned in classrooms, those Niqabi sisters who follow the opinion that the Niqab is obligatory will longer be able to get a conventional education in the classroom without disobeying Allah. From their perspective anyway.
"I spent thirty years learning manners, and I spent twenty years learning knowledge."
But if the Niqab is banned in classrooms, those Niqabi sisters who follow the opinion that the Niqab is obligatory will longer be able to get a conventional education in the classroom without disobeying Allah. From their perspective anyway.
They will be able alright, but it will be tougher for them, having to find an all-girls school.
But if the Niqab is banned in classrooms, those Niqabi sisters who follow the opinion that the Niqab is obligatory will longer be able to get a conventional education in the classroom without disobeying Allah. From their perspective anyway.
if it happened in my country id probably leave my country then to seek education there, a country where there is no ban on religious clothing. this is terrible i honestly don't know what these sisters are going to do but Alhamdulilah there is alot available to in this day and age.. like online courses which my friend is now doing she dose not leave the home without her niqaab
this will be a good thing for the future, as im sure Muslims will move toward making such schools eventually, and im more than sure that saudia arabia will have no problem in funding such projects, so theres to yaaaaaaa to all the right wingers who celebrate about this story.
??
Islam comes across to me as pretty right-wing really itself. Sometimes the apologetics of it comes across to me as slightly populist.
Islam comes across to me as pretty right-wing really itself. Sometimes the apologetics of it comes across to me as slightly populist.
Just a silly comment by me there.
Islam isnt right wing, just because there are a few aspects in which right wingers agree on, such as homosexuality, and capital punishment, doesnt mean were the same.
Islam is all for an open multi-cultural society, and in Islam theres nothing to do with race, which is the complete opposite of right wingers who are mainly racists, hate mixing with other cultures and races, and only interested in their own culture and race. Islam is all about helping each other out, even if the other is a none-Muslim, for right wingers, its helping the other man out, if he happens to be from your race, culture, and country!!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by The_Prince; 02-14-2010 at 10:45 PM.
I agree with a Niqab ban in secular comprehensive schools, however they should ban all forms of religious wear as well, and wearing a ridiculous veil as opposed to school uniform is beyond the pale. At a faith school that isn't Muslim, I also agree with ban on the Niqab. However, if you send your child to a Muslim school, this should not be a problem.
I agree with a Niqab ban in secular comprehensive schools, however they should ban all forms of religious wear as well, and wearing a ridiculous veil as opposed to school uniform is beyond the pale. At a faith school that isn't Muslim, I also agree with ban on the Niqab. However, if you send your child to a Muslim school, this should not be a problem.
You're coming to an Islamic forum and then ridiculing our ways.
At any rate, it's not ridiculous. People these days treat intercourse like going to the bathroom. Would you rather they wear the tattered, sagged, and exposing garments people wear these days? They dress in such a manner that it appeals the opposite gender, and then they complain of rape.
I personally feel the school can ONLY ask the student to take it off in the CLASSROOM.
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