PRESS RELEASE: Educational Testing Service Apologi

[Guest G.Kaur]

Educational Testing Service Apologizes to Sikh Woman; Agrees to Issue Guidelines Regarding Religiously Mandated Head-Coverings

SMART Encourages Community to Report Incidents, Exercise Their Rights

Educational Testing Service Apologizes to Sikh Woman; Agrees to Issue Guidelines Regarding Religiously Mandated Head-Coverings

SMART Encourages Community to Report Incidents, Exercise Their Rights

Washington, DC – Following an incident where a Sikh woman was prevented from taking an entrance exam by her proctors because she was wearing a turban, the Educational Testing Service (ETS) apologized to the woman and agreed to allow her to re-take the test free-of-charge. The Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh American civil rights organization, worked with the woman and the ETS to reach the agreement.

In order to prevent similar incidents in the future, SMART has asked the ETS to draft guidelines regarding the treatment of religiously mandated head-covering. The ETS has agreed to work with SMART in drafting such guidelines which will be distributed to all the ETS appointed testing agencies and locations world-wide.

“This resolution again demonstrates that we can leverage our years of experience with public accommodation issues to achieve a favorable response,” said SMART’s President Manjit Singh. “However we know that under-reporting of such issues continues to be a serious problem, and we encourage Sikhs to inform SMART about all of these incidents.”

The incident involved Arminder Kaur, who appeared at an authorized ETS testing center in Mumbai, Indi

a to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Ms. Kaur was told by the testing center that her turban violated the dress code and was asked to remove her turban. Ms. Kaur pointed out that her identification shows her with a turban and the ETS’ TOEFL bulletin does not state that the test cannot be taken with head-coverings. Additionally, the testing center confirmed to Ms. Kaur that Sikh men were allowed to take the exam with their turban.

If you, or anyone you know, become a victim of a bias incident, please report it immediately at http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/incident/inc...identreport.asp. SMART has relationships with law enforcement agencies across the nation and will ensure that the appropriate agency is notified of the incident. You can also contact SMART toll free at 877-91-SIKHS (1-877-917-4547).

To view SMART’s previous efforts regarding public accommodation, please click here:

2/20/2004

Alabama Discriminatory Driver’s License Policy Overturned

9/23/2003

Pittsburgh Clubs Amend ''No Hats'' Policy to Allow Turbans, Other Religious Head-coverings