ARMM chief asks Luistro to reconsider ban on Muslim face veil

Education Secretary Armin Luistro. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA,  Philippines—The governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM ) will ask Education Secretary Armin Luistro to reconsider his order banning Muslim teachers from wearing  face veils in the classroom.

“I don’t  think  it will be  implemented in  ARMM as a Muslim region. And I directed DepEd-ARMM to clarify this matter with  Secretary  Luistro,”  ARMM Governor  Mujiv Hataman said  in a text message on Wednesday.

“Also, I am preparing a letter to reconsider  this policy of  DepEd Central  office,”   the governor said when sought to comment on the DepEd order.

Luisto issued the directive on July 16, requesting teachers of subjects in Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education not to wear face veils in the classroom as this would get in the way of effective teaching.

“Once the ustadja (teacher) is in the classroom, she is requested to remove the veil,”  Luistro said in the order.

Hataman said he hopes that the DepEd would first conduct consultations before   implementing the new policy, noting  that the matter affects Muslim belief  and  culture.

“The  proper thing here is for DepEd to coordinate with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos for proper understanding,”  he said.

Hataman also noted that in other countries like Malaysia, Muslim teachers  are  allowed to wear  hijab or  headscarf.

Muslims make up about 15 percent of the Philippine population, mostly based in Mindanao which they consider their ancestral home.