A group of 17 Muslim students at Wat Nongchok School last October sought permission to wear the hijab from their school director Prapan Lisin, who forwarded their petition to the Office of the Basic Education Commission board.
The Obec turned down the request on the grounds that the school was located in Wat Nongchok temple's compound.
The Muslim Group for Peace representing the students recently lodged a complaint with the House committee on religious affairs. The House panel last month asked the Sangha Supreme Council to consider the matter.
The council decided to keep the ban, arguing that schools and state agencies located on temple compounds must follow temple rules and Buddhist customs.
Its resolution sparked fresh debate over whether Muslim students should be allowed to wear dress in accordance with their religious beliefs.
Muslim Group for Peace representative Sakariya Sukjan said Muslim students in the far South are allowed to wear Islamic headscarves at school even if they are located on temple compounds.
Deputy permanent-secretary for Education Kamol Rodklai yesterday said the ministry had no policy to prevent Muslim students from wearing the hijab. In 1997, it issued a regulation regarding uniforms worn by female Muslim students, he said.
The regulation said the uniform for female Muslim students should be a long-sleeved blouse and dress. The headscarf should be a square-shaped cloth with the school symbol stitched on it.
School principal Prapan Lisin said he did not think the ban was a problem between Buddhist and Muslim students.
Prapan said his school respected diversity of religion, and Islamic principles were taught in class. About 30% of the 3,100 students are Buddhists.
Sod Daeng-ied, director-general of the Religious Affairs Department, said no regulations had been issued prohibiting people wearing religious dress from entering any places that belong to other religions.
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