Teachers at a high school in the
northeastern town of Monfalcone near Trieste privately lift the
niqab of five female students to ID them, local daily Il Piccolo
reported on Tuesday, saying the case has sparked a protest of
the local chapter of the right-wing League party.
The practice, which is carried out in a private room of the
Sandro Pertini high school, allows teachers to identify the
students - mainly of Bangladeshi origin - while ensuring the
girls can attend school, said principal Carmela Piraino.
In general, the school has worked to help the students,
including by introducing badminton as a sport and allowing them
not to run, which they would be unable to do with their long
robes, said Piraino.
The changes are aimed at preventing the girls from leaving
school given that "the institution reaches its objective when a
pupil completes five years of education", she noted.
One of the students told Il Piccolo that she chose to wear the
niqab, saying her parents "didn't want me to, it's my choice".
However, she also said that she might still quit school as she
can't attend mandatory training courses as "the teacher doesn't
compromise on my identification".
The students' classmates told Il Piccolo that the niqab was a
"cultural matter" and that "dressing like that is their choice,
it certainly doesn't bother us at all".
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