3 Students Thrown Out Of Exams For Wearing Sikh Article Of Faith

[Traveller]

Thats quite a good idea...

yes people may argue- teachers should know about it already- they might even be taught it for 10seconds or shown a powerpoint slide in some training somewhere....but at the end of the day Sikhs are a minority in a non-sikh country who have some exceptional rights and hence if a sikh does carry the legislation, then that would be a great local action to help solve a localised issue. But only as a temporary thing until the country clicks on to the law!

I'm hoping teachers do get trained in specifics of faiths and such issues they may encounter??

Does anyone know if they are taught anything specifically to do with the rights of sikhs and kirpan, kara etc.?

It really shouldnt ever have had to resort to people having to carry around legislation.

If the issue is in teacher training, then its worthwhile campaiging to better that. But is that the issue or just ignorant teachers?

In this situation, as explained above, it seems the the issue is miscomprehension, or simply not knowing legislation in this situation...

to any non-sikh, why should a kirpan be permitted? common sense to a non-sikh says..."What!?! a Knife!?!!! That cant be allowed!! " -thats understandable-

its no shock that a teachers common sense said, WHAT A KNIFE!?! -but that also means they know little, if anything about sikhs!!

The shock is that they for some reason realised during and exam, and that they didnt know the law, nor did the head teacher and after numerous sikhs have gone through education at their college over so many years- whoever said it seems 'fishy' is definately right!

That college has a white population in a minority!!! How can they not know about sikhs and relgious rights is a mystery!

[TruSoul]

I will pop through the college 2mrw, its a 15min drive from me. Never hurts to have some Big singhs make apperance.

[khalsa_raaj]

im speaking on behalf of the 3 students..

the singh n singhni (friends of exam student) have been allowed back into the college

the singhni who was removed from her examination is waiting for conformation of being allowed back into the college.. (she may not of been told yet as she had an meeting yesterday with the school with high members of the community (education department, etc etc))

PLEASE DO NOT go to the school as we are getting our younger sister into more panga and she may not be able to return for her exams!

phul chuk maaf

[Karku_007]

You need to be aware that Sikh Organisations are working with the Government on developing 'guidance' around the Kirpan for public buildings.

In the past, there have been a number of cases, like this and all have been resolved by having a dialoude with the School, resulting in some local athourities developing 'Guidance on wearing of Kirpans' in Schools.

SCYS nottingham, have been involved in the past and l would suggest that we let them the local Gurdwara, lead on this.

Although the law is in our favour, it can be overuled on health and safety issues. We should not be talking about Legal action, but by diplomatic dialouge.

[khalsa_raaj]

I have just been informed that on kohinoor radio today or tomorrow there is going to be a discussion on what happened.. this will be inbetween 5 - 7

please listen and contribute

[kirpadhar]

wjkk wjkph

just to let all sangat know that the college has allowed all three students back to the college business as usual. There will be a press release issued by united sikhs soon.

Thanks to all local leicester sangat, united sikhs and scys nottingham and in particular Ian wilson the principal of the college for coming to a quick and amicable resolution of the matter.

Kuljit singh wjkk wjkph.