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Source: Flickr - Ashish T

A city council in the UK has issued guidelines for primary and secondary schools that advise on how to support Muslim students during the upcoming month of Ramadan.  The report suggests the suspension of swimming classes, as students can accidentally swallow water when no food or drink is allowed during the hours of sunlight.  It also recommends suspending sex education classes, as sexual thoughts are discouraged during this time.  Other recommendations include scheduling exams after Ramadan, as a student´s concentration may not be 100%, and being aware of physical activity if some Muslim students are fasting.  The guidelines are actually very culturally sensitive and sensible, as there are health-related issues that come into play when people are not eating and hydrating their bodies properly.

The council´s point of view is that students should not feel disadvantaged during school time due to their religious observance.  But they have faced strong criticism from the National Secular Society, who say that it is wrong to force non-Muslims to observe Islamic laws and traditions.  They say that rearranging school activities to avoid displacing a minority group based on religious views is out of proportion, and not fair to all students.

Educating parents and teachers about Ramadan seems to be a positive thing, and Muslim students should be given allowances for things that affect their religious beliefs and health during holidays and other times such as Ramadan.  Religion is a sensitive topic, and sometimes awareness can make day to day life safer and more maneagable for everyone.  Religion and education should be able to work together, not get in the way of each other.

Tags: Muslim Students, National Secular Society, Ramadan, UK