Ankara, Sep 24 (IANS/EFE) Female students in Turkey are free to wear the Islamic veil, or the hijab, to class, the country's Education Minister Nabi Avci has announced.
Avci's announcement Tuesday came after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided Monday to repeal a law stipulating that girls keep their heads uncovered in high school classes.
The move got a negative response from some teachers' unions, which accused the government of trampling on Turkey's secular values, while other unions applauded the decision.
The main opposition Republican People's Party said the conservative AKP was trying to distract attention from the country's economic woes and foreign-policy problems and said the new policy serves ideological rather than educational goals.
Last year, the AKP government authorised female state employees to wear the hijab to work.
--IANS/EFE
ab/pr/rd
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app