The Department of Education restates the policy on the protection of religious rights of the students as contained in the DECS Order No. 53 s. 2001 entitled Strengthening the Protection of Religious Rights of Students as the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has called for strict implementation.

The order imposed that female Muslim school children should be allowed to use their veil or headdress (hijab) inside the school campus,  in PE classes Muslims girls are allowed to wear appropriate attire in accordance with their beliefs, moreover, they are not required to participate in non Muslim religious rites.

However, for a Muslim Filipino woman who is hired as ALIVE teacher is requested to remove covering of the entire face (ustadja) inside the classroom, but allowed to use it outside.

In line with this is for the proper identification of the teacher s by the pupils, for promoting better teacher-pupil relationship and for supporting the effective language recognition.

DECS Order No. 53 s. 2001 is pursuant to the constitutional guarantee on the rights of citizen to freedom of religion and non-discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, creed or color that all the schools should strive that these rights of students are protected and strengthened.

 

By: Eloisa Irasga | Teacher II | Mariveles National High School | Mariveles, Bataan