Education Minister, Catriona Ruane has said she hopes to issue guidance to schools before the end of the school year in relation to school uniform policies.
In reply to a submission from pro-faith campaigner, Gregory Carlin regarding the wearing of religious badges at St. Eugene's College in Roslea, the Minister said she was working on similar guidelines to those currently issued to English schools.
Mr Carlin has previously fought for the religious rights of students in England to wear crucifixes and religious symbols of other faiths, and he wrote to the Minister in a bid to secure a freedom of religion for students here.
"I should begin by explaining that the wearing of school uniforms is not governed by any specific education legislation, but falls to individual schools to determine," the Minister stated in her reply.
"The day-to-day management of schools, including any rules regarding the dress of pupils, is a matter for school principals, subject to any direction that might be given by the Board of Governors. When drawing up dress codes, schools should act fairly and reasonably, having regard to their duties under the relevant equality legislation".
She went on: "The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) recently issued advice to schools in England in relation to school uniform policies, and we are currently working on similar guidance to issue to schools here.
"The DSCF guidance indicates that a school should act reasonably in accommodating religious requirements. However, it also notes that the 'freedom to manifest a religion or belief' does not mean that an individual has the right to manifest their religion or belief at any time, in any place, or in any particular manner.
The Minister then revealed her intention to issue similar guidance to schools before the end of the current school year.
"In the South of Ireland', she noted, " the Department of Education and Science has not issued any guidance to schools in relation to school uniform policies."
Following the Minister's response, Mr Carlin said he would be challenging the advice via a judicial review.
Meanwhile in Roslea, a period of consultation regarding school uniform at St. Eugene's College was conducted last month. The move arose following the suspension of 15-year-old Catrina McDermott who refused to remove religious badges from the lapel of her blazer.
Among the proposed rule changes was the implementation of a new regulation regarding wearing badges in school. It proposed: 'Badges, emblems, pins or medals of any description must not be visible on school uniform or school bags'. The proposals were issued in a letter on behalf of the Board of Governors and sent to parents and guardians at the school. The Board of Governors were due to meet to consider a response before the school planner be finalised.
