French President Emmanuel Macron opened the door on Monday to experimenting with uniforms or dress codes in some public schools, amid controversy in France over a ban on wearing long robes, mainly worn by Muslims, in classrooms.
The ban on the jilbab, known as the abaya, came into effect on Monday.
Speaking in a live interview on the Hugo Decrypt channel, which broadcasts on YouTube and TikTok, Macron said he preferred to “experiment” with uniforms in order to “enrich public debate.”
He also said another experimental option could be for children to wear similar clothing, such as “jeans, a T-shirt and a jacket.”
He added: “We could certainly have things that are more acceptable to teenagers. A similar uniform, but not a uniform, might seem, in my view, more acceptable and a little less strict from a disciplinary point of view.”
The president’s comments come after some conservative and far-right politicians expressed support for mandating uniforms in public schools.
Macron did not provide any details about the beginning and location of the experiment, and some private schools already require students to wear uniforms.
Macron reiterated that the authorities will be “fierce” in enforcing the new rule on long robes in public schools, which is seen as a challenge to secular values in France.
He said: “The school is secular and this means that there is no room for religious symbols. We must talk, we must explain (the procedure). But I think this is very important because the school must remain a neutral place.”
The new rule has drawn criticism across the country, with some arguing that loose, body-covering clothing does not constitute an ostentatious display of religion and should not be banned in classrooms.
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2023-09-18 08:01:51
