(Brussels Times) Flemish Interior Minister Hilde Crevits has overturned a decision by the East Flanders provincial council to ban religious symbols, including the Islamic headscarf, in all schools directly managed by the province.
The decision, made on 30 April, was set to take effect in the upcoming school year, but it faced two appeals.
Though the province, as an organising authority, is allowed to impose such a ban, it must follow appropriate procedures and allow for public consultation, which it failed to do. Consequently, Minister Crevits annulled the decision.
The necessary recommendations from school councils were unavailable when the decision was made.
