Row Over School Closures for Muslim, Hindu And Sikh Holidays

October 17, 2009

Author: Jonathan Wynne-Jones and Ian Johnston

Source: Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6358886/Row-over-school-closures-for-Muslim-Hindu-and-Sikh-holidays.html

Two councils have instructed all schools under their control to shut for the annual celebrations of Eid-Ul-Fitr, Diwali and Guru Nanak's Birthday, in addition to the Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter.

The directive, by Waltham Forest and Newham councils, in east London, even affects schools where very few pupils are Muslim, Hindu or Sikh.

After concerns were raised, a review of the policy has been launched in Waltham Forest, with some criticising the closures as inappropriate, unnecessary and "political".

Headteachers have argued that they should be given discretion in deciding which days to mark, as happens in big multi-ethnic cities including Manchester, Birmingham and Bradford.