Ministry decision on Muslim students’ dress code seen as divisive

[webfact]

Ministry decision on Muslim students’ dress code seen as divisive

By CHULARAT SAENGPASSA 
THE NATION 

 

File photo

 

CONCERNS ARE growing over the Education Ministry’s move to leave it up to the schools and their monastic landlords to decide on the dress code for Muslim students.

 

“I am extremely worried and concerned that this move will widen rifts,” Wisoot Binlateh, the director of Sheikul Islam’s coordination centre in the South, said yesterday.

 

Thailand’s deep South, which is mostly populated by Muslims, has struggled with insurgency-related unrest for more than a decade. 

 

The Education Ministry’s latest dress-code move is widely seen as a clear signal that Muslim children will not be able to protest if their schools force them to wear normal uniform – in effect making it impossible for them to follow religious dress rules of wearing hijabs and long trousers.

 

Last month, some parents challenged the Anuban Pattani School in Pattani province about what Muslim children studying there could wear. Operating inside a Buddhist temple, this school had long required students to wear school uniforms regardless of their religion. But the parents believed their children should be allowed to follow their Islamic beliefs. 

 

The Education Ministry back then intervened to ease tension, signalling that Muslim children should be able to wear a hijab and long trousers as long as their colours matched those of the school’s uniform. At that time, the ministry’s school-uniform regulation stipulated that students could dress in accordance with religious beliefs. 

 

But the Royal Gazette on Wednesday published the latest revision to the Education Ministry’s school-uniform rules.

 

The amendment stated that Muslim students can wear school uniforms or wear clothes based on their religious beliefs at schools that are not operating on plots belonging to temples. But if they study at schools which sit on monastic land they must comply with the dress code set by the school and the landlord. 

 

Thousands of state schools in Thailand are located inside monastic compounds. While the Education Ministry’s revision of the school-uniform rule aims to prevent further disputes over the dress code for Muslim students, the move itself has become a cause for concern.

 

“I really can’t understand why the government will do this: why revise the regulation?” Wisoot said. 

 

He said when Muslim children enrolled in private schools, the government was worried about insurgent ideologies. 

 

“So why does the ministry make a move that would drive Muslim children away?” he said. 

 

Wisoot emphasised that state schools should welcome diversity and foster harmony. 

 

“Children from various religious and cultural backgrounds should be allowed to interact at state schools and learn together,” he said.

 

“State schools should play a role in bringing children of various backgrounds together. If a dress code keeps some children away, they will not grow up in the state-organised inculcation system.”

 

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Angkhana Neelapaijit said not allowing Muslim students to dress according to their religious beliefs is a violation of their religious freedom rights.

 

She was also worried that the dress code could cause divisions among people of different faiths. 

 

“The NHRC has received two complaints about school dress code, related to Anuban Pattani School and Hatyaiwittayalai School.

 

Some parents have even taken their children out of the latter school,” Angkhana said. She said the Hatyaiwittayalai School in fact allowed students to wear hijabs but some teachers were against it and this had caused problems. 

 

Cross Cultural Foundation director Pornpen Khongkachonkiet urged all sides to sit down together and talk. 

 

“Or else, there will be animosity on both sides – Buddhists and Muslims – in the area. Both sides are focusing on winning. But children deserve sympathy and they have got sandwiched between the two sides. This battle, if it goes on, will cause pain to all sides,” Pornpen said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30347784

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-15

[kannot]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

beliefs

Therein lies the problem

[Panda13]

[JAG]

24 minutes ago, kannot said:

Therein lies the problem

Tolerance, removes the problem.

I teach in a RC school. We have a number of Muslim children. The school is in the part of town where most of the Muslims seem to live. The girls wear rather longer skirts, a few wear headscarfs, some of the senior boys don't shave. They have the same provision for RE as the Catholic children. Not a problem -after all they are all God's children.

Edited June 14, 2018 by JAG

[mok199]

Thailand has no remorse for driving rifts between westerners and thais..

[Samui Bodoh]

"...The amendment stated that Muslim students can wear school uniforms or wear clothes based on their religious beliefs at schools that are not operating on plots belonging to temples. But if they study at schools which sit on monastic land they must comply with the dress code set by the school and the landlord... 

...Thousands of state schools in Thailand are located inside monastic compounds..."

 

Hmm...

 

Why are "thousands of state schools...located inside monastic compounds"? Are they state schools or monastic schools?

 

If state schools are located in monastic compounds, does that mean that monastic law supersedes state law in regards to education in general? In the curriculum? In sporting activities? In the dress code? In operating hours?

 

Does monastic law supersede state law in all matters on monastic compounds or just education?

 

If the state pays rent for the land upon which their school resides (and presumably they do), do they not have the right to enact their own rules and regulations?

 

Double hmm...

 

I rent my house. Does this mean that my landlord can set a dress code for me?

 

Questions, questions...

 

Edited June 14, 2018 by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

[AGareth2]

2 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Why are "thousands of state schools...located inside monastic compounds"? 

historical

[kannot]

27 minutes ago, JAG said:

Tolerance, removes the problem.

I teach in a RC school. We have a number of Muslim children. The school is in the part of town where most of the Muslims seem to live. The girls wear rather longer skirts, a few wear headscarfs, some of the senior boys don't shave. They have the same provision for RE as the Catholic children. Not a problem -after all they are all God's children.

more "belief" nonsense, show me your proof  of  God thanks and "which God" you see how daft it is.

Edited June 14, 2018 by kannot

[Darcula]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Wisoot emphasised that state schools should welcome diversity and foster harmony. 

 

Inshallah, one day this will happen.

 

 

[holy cow cm]

Let the girls wear head gear as long as it is see through material. Boys need to be clean shaven. No exceptions

[flyingtlger]

"Religion is the main cause of war and the root of most suffering in the world"

 

[ezzra]

When religions were first invented, it is a human  invention after all, it was to give people power in numbers to do good, over the centuries it has quickly escalated and deteriorated into waging wars and a reason to kill people who doesn't subscribe to their belief, many millions of lives were lost and untold misery was brought upon people all over the world in the name of this or that religion or a deity....

[Kieran00001]

26 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...The amendment stated that Muslim students can wear school uniforms or wear clothes based on their religious beliefs at schools that are not operating on plots belonging to temples. But if they study at schools which sit on monastic land they must comply with the dress code set by the school and the landlord... 

...Thousands of state schools in Thailand are located inside monastic compounds..."

 

Hmm...

 

Why are "thousands of state schools...located inside monastic compounds"? Are they state schools or monastic schools?

 

If state schools are located in monastic compounds, does that mean that monastic law supersedes state law in regards to education in general? In the curriculum? In sporting activities? In the dress code? In operating hours?

 

Does monastic law supersede state law in all matters on monastic compounds or just education?

 

If the state pays rent for the land upon which their school resides (and presumably they do), do they not have the right to enact their own rules and regulations?

 

Double hmm...

 

I rent my house. Does this mean that my landlord can set a dress code for me?

 

Questions, questions...

 

 

The first free schools were the temple schools, originally they were monastic schools only for boys but the king ordered them to be available for all and  they evolved into the state school system, they worked together with the Abbots who have up land to build more schools.  Some old schools are within the temple grounds but actually most state primary schools are built on monastic land outside of the temple.  And they have to meet education law not monastic law, and have done for a hundred years.

[Kieran00001]

26 minutes ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...The amendment stated that Muslim students can wear school uniforms or wear clothes based on their religious beliefs at schools that are not operating on plots belonging to temples. But if they study at schools which sit on monastic land they must comply with the dress code set by the school and the landlord... 

...Thousands of state schools in Thailand are located inside monastic compounds..."

 

Hmm...

 

Why are "thousands of state schools...located inside monastic compounds"? Are they state schools or monastic schools?

 

If state schools are located in monastic compounds, does that mean that monastic law supersedes state law in regards to education in general? In the curriculum? In sporting activities? In the dress code? In operating hours?

 

Does monastic law supersede state law in all matters on monastic compounds or just education?

 

If the state pays rent for the land upon which their school resides (and presumably they do), do they not have the right to enact their own rules and regulations?

 

Double hmm...

 

I rent my house. Does this mean that my landlord can set a dress code for me?

 

Questions, questions...

 

 

The first free schools were the temple schools, originally they were monastic schools only for boys but the king ordered them to be available for all and  they evolved into the state school system, they worked together with the Abbots who have up land to build more schools.  Some old schools are within the temple grounds but actually most state primary schools are built on monastic land outside of the temple.  And they have to meet education law not monastic law, and have done for a hundred years.

[Kieran00001]

21 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

Let the girls wear head gear as long as it is see through material. Boys need to be clean shaven. No exceptions

 

Why do you want to be able to see the school girls hair?  What?

[JAG]

36 minutes ago, kannot said:

more "belief" nonsense, show me your proof  of  God thanks and "which God" you see how daft it is.

1) Not the topic.

2) I was posting about tolerance, which does not seem to be your strong suite, does it?

[AGareth2]

this will only fuel the fire of the insurgency in the south

[stanleycoin]

it's only going to get progressively  worse in years to come.

Should nip it in the bud now,  and government take charge on this issue.

If not,   what could ever go wrong in years to come.

Edited June 15, 2018 by stanleycoin

[Briggsy]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Anuban Pattani School

Nutty parents seeking to stir up trouble.

[rkidlad]

The school should sit down and talk about it's uniform policy. Make arguments for and against. Best ideas win.

 

I think uniforms in schools makes sense because it's supposed to make everyone feel equal and a real member of a school. There should be no exceptions to the rule other than a disability or something that can be proven. If you wanna wear a headscarf or a crucifix, etc, up to you. But you do it on your own time. In school you wear the same uniform everyone else wears. You're there to learn. Number one lesson: there's a time and a place for your 'beliefs'. 

 

 

 

 

[Kieran00001]

18 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

The school should sit down and talk about it's uniform policy. Make arguments for and against. Best ideas win.

 

I think uniforms in schools makes sense because it's supposed to make everyone feel equal and a real member of a school. There should be no exceptions to the rule other than a disability or something that can be proven. If you wanna wear a headscarf or a crucifix, etc, up to you. But you do it on your own time. In school you wear the same uniform everyone else wears. You're there to learn. Number one lesson: there's a time and a place for your 'beliefs'. 

 

 

 

 

 

Every school should have to sit down with someone, (who?) and argue their uniform policy?  Why?  Why not just keep it as it is considering it was working for everyone?

 

The Thai constitution says, "Section 31. A person shall enjoy full liberty to profess a religion, and shall enjoy the liberty to exercise or practice a form of worship in accordance with his or her religious principles, provided that it shall not be adverse to the duties of all Thai people, neither shall it endanger the safety of the State, nor shall it be contrary to public order or good morals."

 

Would wearing a hijab not be the exercising of a religious principle?  Does it adverse the duty of Thai people?  Does it endanger the the safety of the state?  Is it contrary to public order?  Is it contrary to good morals?

[mikebell]

Where are the photos of Buddhist University students' uniforms?  Only female ones please.

[Anak Nakal]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

But if they study at schools which sit on monastic land they must comply with the dress code set by the school and the landlord. 

Why landlord?

It not make sense.

[rkidlad]

20 minutes ago, Kieran00001 said:

Every school should have to sit down with someone, (who?) and argue their uniform policy?

Who? The people who run the school. Argue? No, make arguments for and against. Such as we should wear blue shirts because.......

 

22 minutes ago, Kieran00001 said:

Would wearing a hijab not be the exercising of a religious principle?

It is, but you're in school now. We are here to learn. The rules apply to everyone. 

 

[wildewillie89]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“The NHRC has received two complaints about school dress code, related to Anuban Pattani School and Hatyaiwittayalai School.

The teachers had an unnecessary whinge whilst at the same time they are making Buddhist students sit in uncomfortable positions for unnecessary long amounts of times.

So they went with the peaceful and reasonable action first, going through legitimate processes.

The teachers should remember that when the people in the South see no other option than to turn to violence when their way of life is not allowed.

I am of no religion and think all religions are ridiculous, but people do have that right under the current human right framework. 

Edited June 15, 2018 by wildewillie89

[greenchair]

Nothing to do with religion. All state schools and many private schools don't allow colour codes or dress codes that show a seperation of one group to another. This includes wearing gang insignia, religious insignia, political insignia, gang, religious and political colours. Hair styles that are related to gangs, religions and politics. Religion has been removed from all state schools for more than 30 years. The children study at home with family their particular beliefs without encroaching on others. My son went to a Saturday state school class. There was 1 muslim in a group of 30. Pork was taken off the menu. The children were forced to eat chicken. We don't eat chicken because of the hormones in it. 

My sons right was violated. Apparently, he's racist if he protests that. 

[Bluespunk]

3 minutes ago, greenchair said:

Nothing to do with religion. All state schools and many private schools don't allow colour codes or dress codes that show a seperation of one group to another. This includes wearing gang insignia, religious insignia, political insignia, gang, religious and political colours. Hair styles that are related to gangs, religions and politics. Religion has been removed from all state schools for more than 30 years. The children study at home with family their particular beliefs without encroaching on others. My son went to a Saturday state school class. There was 1 muslim in a group of 30. Pork was taken off the menu. The children were forced to eat chicken. We don't eat chicken because of the hormones in it. 

My sons right was violated. Apparently, he's racist if he protests that. 

How many meal options were on the menu?

[bizboi]

The problem with islam - The failure to integrate with other cultures is inherent because 26 verses of the Koraan teach Muslims to “Kill the jew and the Christian where you find them”  - Schools in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan dont change THEIR dress codes for foreigners!!

Edited June 15, 2018 by bizboi

[holy cow cm]

2 hours ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

Why do you want to be able to see the school girls hair?  What?

Do you really think Muslims would go for that. Even though technically it is covered up, it is still viewable. Get it!

[greenchair]

17 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

How many meal options were on the menu?

The original meal option was ham and cheese sandwiches. When it was discovered that a Muslim was attending. the menu was changed,because the school did not want to offend anyone. Pork is the preferred meat of many Thais, because of the excessive hormones in chicken. Why couldn't the Muslim be offered a cheese sandwich? It was a racist act that catered to the needs of the one whilst infringing on the needs of the many. All religious and political activities should be kept out of schools.