(CTV) All of Quebec’s subsidized private schools received letters from the provincial government telling them how to comply with the new law on secularism.
The letters were sent on Aug. 20 to private elementary and high schools throughout the province, including Montreal. The letter informed the schools that they must comply with Bill 21, saying all the schools received some form of subsidy from the provincial government.
In the letters the schools were told that Bill 21 requires “certain staff members of private schools and colleges that receive subsidies perform their duties with uncovered faces.”
School officials said when they received the letters there was confusion on whether staff must comply with the religious symbols portion of the bill, which forbids public employees in positions of authority, including teachers, from wearing visible symbols such as kippahs and hijabs while on the job.
