The Minister of National Education Gabriel Attal justified the ban on wearing the abaya in schools by calling on Monday to “unite” against attacks on secularism, considering that the school of the Republic was “tested “.
“To unite is to be clear: the abaya has no place in our schools,” said the minister during his back-to-school press conference. He promised to train “300,000 staff per year in secularism issues until 2025” and all 14,000 management staff “before the end of the year”.
“Our school is tested. In recent months, attacks on secularism have increased considerably, with in particular the wearing of religious outfits such as abayas or qamis which have appeared? and sometimes settled? in certain establishments”, argued the minister.
The latter announced on Sunday on TF1 the ban on the abaya, a long traditional dress worn by certain Muslim students, in schools, thus responding to a demand from school heads who were demanding clear instructions on this controversial subject.
According to a note from the state services, of which AFP obtained a copy, attacks on secularism, much more numerous since the assassination in 2020 near his college of Professor Samuel Paty, increased by 120% between the school year 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The wearing of signs and outfits, which represents the majority of attacks, has meanwhile increased by more than 150% throughout the last school year.
“The firmness of the school’s response is being tested by these new phenomena, in the face of the battering, in the face of attacks, in the face of attempts at destabilization,” said Mr. Attal.
“We have to unite. And we will unite,” he added.
08/28/2023 10:12:35 – Paris (AFP) – © 2023 AFP