MANGALORE: The management of St Aloysius College, one among Karnataka’s reputed-autonomous educational institution, has decided to ban burqa from this academic year. The college has banned women students from wearing the burqa in classrooms, laying down the law in its prospectus. The diktat that is likely to trigger a debate criss-crossing gender and sectarian lines, was meant for undergraduate courses at the St Aloysius Pre-University College.
St Aloysius registrar AM Narahari told TOI on Thursday the college didn’t object to girls wearing burqa on campus and in the corridors. However, “girls are not allowed to enter classrooms and exam halls wearing burqa.” Narahari said lecturers found it difficult to teach students in burqa and it was mandatory for students to show their face during exam.
“Students must be neatly dressed in accordance with the rule of approved etiquette. Girls are not expected to wear burqa in the classrooms and in the examination halls. The decision of the principal in this regard is to be accepted,” reads the first condition in the general regulations, a copy of which is with TOI.
At many places in UP’s Muslim-dominated areas, students routinely wear the burqa but most take it off inside classrooms although there is no fiat against the full-body dress. In New Delhi’s Jamia Milia Islamia, a central university, there is no restriction on students wearing the burqa to classes.
Internationally, France, Italy and Belgium are among countries that have banned the burqa to empower women and ensure personal identification among other reasons. Many other European nations may follow suit.
St Aloysius registrar AM Narahari said that the college didn’t object to girls wearing burqa on campus and in the corridors. However, “girls are not allowed to enter classrooms and exam halls wearing burqa.” Narahari said lecturers found it difficult to teach students in burqa and it was mandatory for students to show their face during exam.
(inputs from TOI)
Well U r right that even Muslim institutions do not force burqa, girls may sit without niqab in class, so it doesn’t mean girls don’t wear burqa in those institutions or wear a niqab. Please understand here it’s not forced here if even with no restrictions when they choose to wear burqa/niqab/scarf it’s there personal interest and shouldn’t force something that they don’t wish to do. And if the teachers say it’s difficult to teach with niqab I don’t understand a valid reason behind it, I understand in examination hall it could be a problem so we could look for an alternative like arranging a separate room with a lady supervisor or people may come up with other better ideas as well, n as far as teachers concern of teaching them they may teach them the way they teach all if everybody is understanding then even girls with niqab is understanding, after teachers teaching them it becomes students responsibility to understand n implement what they learn at school, I’m sure they could do that because they have been doing the same already and have reached pre-university level. I request all not to support this because if this implemented many girls may discontinue their studies which affect the education ratio of the country, and brings a negative repute to the nation.