Voice of British Muslim Women

Munazzah Chou, London

Dear OFSTED

The case of your inspectors asking young primary school girls about their choice of clothing makes as much sense as CQC inspectors asking paediatric patients about their sartorial choices in clinic. Very little. The function of both organisations being the inspection and regulation of services, why one would wish to expand its already hefty responsibilities is curious.

A hijab is no barrier to education and learning so OFSTED should have no fear of their services falling on muffled ears; if the quality of education provision is high then the attainment of Muslim girls will be commensurately high.

I don’t believe that children in primary schools are required in Islam to wear hijab but it cannot be right to single out any single religious group within the wider school community for closer inspection. At least I don’t believe that it can be done without making that group feel targeted, for the group to become defensive and insular and eventually marginalised.

Let us assume now that these children are forced to wear hijab, contrary to Islamic teaching. Will their education suffer because of this piece of cloth? Should we not be more concerned about the suffering of a child in an unhappy home with no right to self-determination. Surely even these concerns fall outside the remit of OFSTED. A teacher is best placed to address any social concerns once identified. If a teacher wishes to ask older Muslim girls about their hijabs it must be handled sensitively so that they do not feel isolated or discriminated against.

The idea that hijab equates to sexualisation of girls is just bizarre. I can think of many items of school uniform which could be considered to play a part in sexualisation of young girls- but to have this accusation levied against the hijab falls outside my understanding.

Islam does not require young girls to wear hijab but if a personal choice is made from a desire to emulate their mothers isn’t it healthy that they see their mother as a positive role model within a secure and happy family unit. No school or government linked body should take any action that could serve to make any Muslim child feel as though there is something wrong with their religion or culture.

Yours

Munazzah Chou