A 5 year old Sikh boy was denied from school enrollment in Australia for wearing a turban, as it does not align with school’s uniform policy.
Sagardeep Singh Arora father of the child has quoted by saying to a local news that “It was disappointing that his son was forced to abandon his religious practices ad identity to access to an education in Melbourne’s Melton Christian College.
Arora had lodged a claim with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
Arora also said that he believes in having a common school uniform is very important in promoting the identity of the school and integration.
But the students must be allowed to wear their significant religious faith symbols and articles of faith. It is immoral for a school which do not allow its students to practice their beliefs.
Arora said that they are in talks with different organizations like schools, police and army, regarding the importance of hair and turban in Sikhism in Australia and other countries. But still the Melbourne’s Melton Christian College has refused to review their uniform policy.
It is so disappointing that Sikh community are still struggling with issues like this, even after having a long history of the Sikh community in Australia.
"While practicing our religious beliefs, we wish to show an expression of solidarity with the wider Australian community," he added.
According to the reports, Melbourne Christian College has provided a written response to the VEOHRC in which the school has refused to include any additional items amid the existing permitted uniform protocol.
In the written response College said, that the history of their college represents more than 30 years of inclusive religious tolerance. Children of the school have been in classrooms and grounds together, playing and learning wonderfully oblivious to their religion. They are proud of that heritage of inclusiveness.
MCC said that they acknowledge the disappointment which Sagardeep and his family have felt. They respectfully recognize Aurora’s disappointment that the uniform protocol of the school means that non prescribed items are not permitted to be worn in addition to the school uniform.
The result is that they have agreed that college uniform will be maintained as it is, without permitting additional items."
Sikhism is a small religion, but it is a growing minority in Australia. Sikh community can trace its origin in the nation to the 1830s. At present Australia is home to more than 72,000 Sikhs, and it is expected that in this year’s census the population of Sikh’s is going to increase.
In a landmark case in September 2008, a Brisbane private school was forced to back down on a strict uniform policy that would have forced a Sikh boy to cut his hair and remove his turban.
AMandeep
