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Belgian court says religion teacher can wear headscarf at school

00:46 04/02/2016

The Council of State in Belgium has ruled in favour of a religion teacher who was not hired because she refused to sign an agreement banning teachers from wearing headscarves or other religious symbols in the classroom. The ruling negates the decision by the director of De Driesprong school in Maldegem to not hire the teacher, writes De Morgen.

The Council of State points out the difference between a religion teacher and a teacher of other subjects, maintaining that “the job of a religious teacher involves that teacher's personal commitment to the subject, including the external display of their ideology," says the Council.

"In addition, the duties and tasks of a religion teacher are not strictly limited to the classroom, but extend beyond the context of the assignment at hand, making room for a personal anecdote, should the situation call for it,” the Council adds.

Community Education, the network of government-provided education which is in charge of the ban on religious symbols, will respond to the ruling tomorrow.

Written by Robyn Boyle