The juxtaposition of religion and education is not always an easy feat to attain as demonstrated by the recent case where a group of students had their headscarves snipped off by their teacher.

The action stemmed from the basis that these students wore the wrong type of tudung (headscarf) to school. In resorting to such an action, the teachers would have argued that cutting their tudung would be the best way to get the message across.

But they cannot be further from the truth.

Then there was a principal in Penang who withdrew two netball teams from a local tournament because some of the players removed their headscarf or tudung during the competition.

To display one's wrath for a reason so harmless is certainly no show of authority. Instead of humiliating these students, the teachers could have thought better in wanting to discipline them.

The state education department said guidelines had been issued to schools on the type of tudung that can be worn by female Muslim students. If at all it is deemed necessary that female Muslim students be asked to wear tudung of a particular size, it is best that such a ruling be made clear to them.

Should the students still fail to comply, other modes of action can be taken instead of cutting their headscarves. Schools are where children learn tolerance, gain knowledge and wisdom, they are not venues where hatred takes shape and violence takes root.

Lack of understanding

Often, schools in Malaysia tend to encroach into the religious beliefs of their students. The case of Sikh students who are hauled up by school prefects for wearing their obligatory religious-bound steel bangle is all too common.

The lack of understanding on what this bangle symbolises is a manifestation of how ignorant we generally are when it comes to the various religions in our country.

Then there was once the case of an Indian female student who was punished for wearing the traditional pottu on her forehead. She was accused by the school of wearing make-up when the pottu has a religious bearing.

Now, where and when do we start educating our young about the ethnicity and religions in Malaysia? Is it the responsibility of the yet-to-be- enlightened schools or should the buck be passed completely to parents?

Punishing students on 'religious' grounds is not going to improve the limits of morality. To victimise students for a higher agenda is certainly no way to mould the leaders of tomorrow.

And the fact that there are prejudiced regulations towards non-Muslims further complicates matters.

IIU example

The case where Foo Yueh Jiin, an International Islamic University graduate who did not attend her convocation day because she refused to follow the university's rule that non-Muslim undergraduates must don a tudung is one of the many that shed light of the pressures non-Muslims face in complying to biased rules.

Many, for fear of retaliation, choose to keep quiet. In Foo's case, she was the only one among 10 non-Muslim female graduates in her batch who protested the regulation. She had applied for an exemption from IIU but was instead told "the other graduates before you could comply with the regulation, so why not you?"

When Foo's predicament was raised in Parliament by opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Maximus Ongkili had said that IIU's rule "was not religious in nature but a matter of uniforms that must be followed. It does not breach basic human rights" (Malaysiakini Oct 28, 2005).

Looks like Ongkili should do himself a favour by seeking the help of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia in learning about basic human rights.

As for the IIU, the move reflected its insensitivity.

Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein's statement that according to the ministry's rules and regulations, it was clear that there is no compulsion for students to wear the tudung. And for those who wear the tudung, there are also rules and regulations to follow.

He also stated that Muslim girls should not be forced to wear headscarves in schools. Sadly, Hishammuddin's so-called assurance serve no respite if the IIU example is to be considered.

Be sensitive

How does a university, under the guise of 'dress code' force non-Muslim students to wear the tudung for the sake of uniformity? Is such a move not defeating the bid to teach our young ones of their rights?

What is to happen if Muslim students were asked to wear the pottu or smear the vibuthi (holy ash used by Hindus)? This will without a doubt lead to massive tension because both the pottu and the vibuthi bear religious significance.

Likewise, the tudung too is seen as a religious symbol and to compel non-Muslims to wear it under one excuse or another is only going to give birth to racial disharmony in Malaysia.

No doubt our Constitution allows for freedom of religion but as they say 'freedom comes with responsibility'.

Should Malaysia aspire to maintain harmony within its multi-racial society, the first step is to educate the policy makers on the importance of respecting the diverse religious practices.

JJ RAY started her career with a mainstream publication. A non-conformist, she soon saw the barriers that went up whenever, through her writing, she tried to make the world a home for one and all.