The Department of Education ordered Muslim teachers Tuesday, July 16 to remove their veils inside classrooms, in part to promote better relationships between teachers and pupils. Education Secretary Armin Luistro, a member of the Catholic La Salle brothers, said the move was part of reforms to make schools more sensitive to religion. This was posted on the online news portal of TV5.
It further said, “Muslim schoolgirls will still be allowed to wear the veil or "hijab" on campuses as well as "appropriate clothing" in gym class, according to the order, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.
But while female Muslim schoolteachers can wear the veil outside class, they are told to remove the veil during lessons so they can interact better with students.
"Once the (teacher) is in the classroom, she is requested to remove the veil," the order said.
Having Muslim female teachers remove their veils allows for "proper identification of the teachers by their pupils, thus promoting better teacher-pupil relationship," it said.
Being able to see the teachers' faces also helps in teaching language, where "lip formation" plays a role in pronouncing certain letters, it said.
The DepEd order issued by Secretary Luistro on July 16, 2013 received flak and mixed reactions ordering Muslim women public school teachers’ wearing “hijab” to remove them while inside their classrooms, Mindanao Examiner said in its report on July 23, 2013. This early, the said order was criticized by many which come from a Catholic and member of the La Salle Brothers. A copy of the order obtained by Agence France Press mentioned that although wearing hijab is prohibited inside classrooms, Muslim women are allowed to wear them inside school campuses or compounds. The order is particular to teachers teaching Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education.
“While the Department supports and promotes the right of Muslim Filipino women to wear hijab/veil (or headdress), it does not compel Muslim Filipino women to wear it,” it added.
There was no immediate explanation or comment from Brother Luistro but one who read the order said that, “You need to integrate with us here in Mindanao Armin Luistro for you to be oriented of our practices, culture and faith.”
“There is already a law, Magna Carta to that effect. If he is serious, then the Aquino government should think twice. They cannot be talking peace with Moro rebels who are Muslims and in the other hand promote that kind of policy,” said Roland, a Muslim convert.
“Learn. Respect, Broaden one's faith,” One Pinay worker in the United Arab Emirate stressed.
Another one said, “OMG (oh my gosh) for an Educ(ation) Sec(retary) to say that! Send him back to school so that he will understand Islamic culture.”
A respected Muslim resident in Zamboanga City said, “For a Cabinet member too insensitive as Mr. Luistro certainly speaks of his lack of understanding of the Muslim culture and custom that he's mandated as DepEd Secretary to respect. He should be somewhere else not heading the Education Department.”
It can be recalled that wearing hijab became a controversy in Zamboanga City when students and nurses were prohibited by some colleges, universities and hospitals to wear hijab but the policy was recalled due to massive protest and by order of the court.
Meanwhile, in a report posted at the DepEd website dated July 24, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reiterated its policy of respecting the religious rights of students including the right of female Muslim school children to use veil or headdress (hijab) inside the campus.
Based on DepEd Order No. 32 series of 2013, the Department reiterates its policy on the protection of religious rights of students which was contained in DECS Order No. 53 series of 2001 entitled “Strengthening the Protection of Religious Rights of Students.”
Based on the order, Muslim girls shall be allowed to wear appropriate clothing during Physical Education (PE) classes in accordance with their religious beliefs. Moreover, Muslim students shall not be required to participate in non-Muslim religious rites.
“These measures are part of our continuing thrust to make education universal, inclusive, and embracing of all faith,” said Secretary Luistro. The Philippine Constitution guarantees the rights of citizens to freedom of religion and non-discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, creed, or color.
While DepEd supports and promotes the right of Muslim Filipino women to wear the hijab or veil, it does not compel Filipino Muslim women to wear it. For Muslim Filipino women who have been hired as Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) teachers, the wearing of ustadja (covering of the whole face) is allowed outside the classroom, DepEd said in statement.
However, inside the classroom she is requested to remove the ustadja for proper identification of the teacher by the pupils thus promoting better teacher-pupil relationship. Also, effective language teaching is better achieved when face covering is removed as pupils can clearly see the lip formation of the teacher when speaking which significantly helps in the correct production of the letter sounds.
In a news report written by Jun Mendoza published in Latest News dated July 24, it said that the National Commission on Muslim Affairs will study the recent order issued by DepEd prohibiting Muslim women teachers from wearing hijab while inside classrooms. As of press time, the office has not received a copy of said order. (Editor’s note: The complete covering of Muslim woman’s face is called “Niqab”, not ustadja or hijab. “Hijab” refers to Muslim woman modest dressing. Furthermore, ustadja is a female counterpart of “Ustadz” (male) who teaches Arabic in schools).
http://www.luwaran.com/
But while female Muslim schoolteachers can wear the veil outside class, they are told to remove the veil during lessons so they can interact better with students.
"Once the (teacher) is in the classroom, she is requested to remove the veil," the order said.
Having Muslim female teachers remove their veils allows for "proper identification of the teachers by their pupils, thus promoting better teacher-pupil relationship," it said.
Being able to see the teachers' faces also helps in teaching language, where "lip formation" plays a role in pronouncing certain letters, it said.
The DepEd order issued by Secretary Luistro on July 16, 2013 received flak and mixed reactions ordering Muslim women public school teachers’ wearing “hijab” to remove them while inside their classrooms, Mindanao Examiner said in its report on July 23, 2013. This early, the said order was criticized by many which come from a Catholic and member of the La Salle Brothers. A copy of the order obtained by Agence France Press mentioned that although wearing hijab is prohibited inside classrooms, Muslim women are allowed to wear them inside school campuses or compounds. The order is particular to teachers teaching Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education.
“While the Department supports and promotes the right of Muslim Filipino women to wear hijab/veil (or headdress), it does not compel Muslim Filipino women to wear it,” it added.
There was no immediate explanation or comment from Brother Luistro but one who read the order said that, “You need to integrate with us here in Mindanao Armin Luistro for you to be oriented of our practices, culture and faith.”
“There is already a law, Magna Carta to that effect. If he is serious, then the Aquino government should think twice. They cannot be talking peace with Moro rebels who are Muslims and in the other hand promote that kind of policy,” said Roland, a Muslim convert.
“Learn. Respect, Broaden one's faith,” One Pinay worker in the United Arab Emirate stressed.
Another one said, “OMG (oh my gosh) for an Educ(ation) Sec(retary) to say that! Send him back to school so that he will understand Islamic culture.”
A respected Muslim resident in Zamboanga City said, “For a Cabinet member too insensitive as Mr. Luistro certainly speaks of his lack of understanding of the Muslim culture and custom that he's mandated as DepEd Secretary to respect. He should be somewhere else not heading the Education Department.”
It can be recalled that wearing hijab became a controversy in Zamboanga City when students and nurses were prohibited by some colleges, universities and hospitals to wear hijab but the policy was recalled due to massive protest and by order of the court.
Meanwhile, in a report posted at the DepEd website dated July 24, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reiterated its policy of respecting the religious rights of students including the right of female Muslim school children to use veil or headdress (hijab) inside the campus.
Based on DepEd Order No. 32 series of 2013, the Department reiterates its policy on the protection of religious rights of students which was contained in DECS Order No. 53 series of 2001 entitled “Strengthening the Protection of Religious Rights of Students.”
Based on the order, Muslim girls shall be allowed to wear appropriate clothing during Physical Education (PE) classes in accordance with their religious beliefs. Moreover, Muslim students shall not be required to participate in non-Muslim religious rites.
“These measures are part of our continuing thrust to make education universal, inclusive, and embracing of all faith,” said Secretary Luistro. The Philippine Constitution guarantees the rights of citizens to freedom of religion and non-discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, creed, or color.
While DepEd supports and promotes the right of Muslim Filipino women to wear the hijab or veil, it does not compel Filipino Muslim women to wear it. For Muslim Filipino women who have been hired as Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education (ALIVE) teachers, the wearing of ustadja (covering of the whole face) is allowed outside the classroom, DepEd said in statement.
However, inside the classroom she is requested to remove the ustadja for proper identification of the teacher by the pupils thus promoting better teacher-pupil relationship. Also, effective language teaching is better achieved when face covering is removed as pupils can clearly see the lip formation of the teacher when speaking which significantly helps in the correct production of the letter sounds.
In a news report written by Jun Mendoza published in Latest News dated July 24, it said that the National Commission on Muslim Affairs will study the recent order issued by DepEd prohibiting Muslim women teachers from wearing hijab while inside classrooms. As of press time, the office has not received a copy of said order. (Editor’s note: The complete covering of Muslim woman’s face is called “Niqab”, not ustadja or hijab. “Hijab” refers to Muslim woman modest dressing. Furthermore, ustadja is a female counterpart of “Ustadz” (male) who teaches Arabic in schools).
http://www.luwaran.com/
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