Jakarta – A state elementary school in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, has banned its students from wearing veils while at school. The new rule, which was announced during a flag-raising ceremony on Independence Day recently, has drawn protests from the students' parents.

"We as parents cannot believe this new rule banning students from wearing veils because we think that it doesn't make sense and it is unreasonable," one of the parents, who wanted to be identified only as T, told tribunnews.com.

T said he had questioned the school's authorities because the rule had impacted his daughter, who had launched a strike, refusing to attend school. He argued that the rule was unnecessary because wearing veils did not disrupt the learning process at school.

The school's principal, Dahlia, said that the ban was designed to aid the enforcement of rules regarding the wearing of the school uniform. She argued that veils made students' appearances messy, tempo.co reported.

Meanwhile, South Sumatra National Education Agency head Widodo regretted the school's ban on veils, saying that the rule contradicted a basic principle of education: tolerance. (rad/ika)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/27/banyuasin-elementary-school-bans-veils.html