Town Horten’s Adult Education service might impose a veto on female students wearing the Niqab.
Ole Nordaas from the municipality’s Adult Education service explains that there is currently only one student who wears a Niqab, a religious garment that covers the face.
However, he thinks it is important that the whole face can be seen when students learn Norwegian, explaining the teachers find speaking to the students difficult if their face is not visible.
“It’s very important to see the mouth and eyes and using everything that has to do with communication when you want to learn a language,” Mr Nordaas told broadcaster NRK.
Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombudsman Sunniva Ørstavik has now told the school that a Niqab ban would not breach either Norway’s Equality or Anti-Discrimination Acts.
Capital Oslo’s Adult Education service introduced similar measures in 2006, Labour (Ap) politician for Horten Anahita Hamedbarghi is supportive of Niqab ban.
“Norway as a society has to facilitate for [others] to become integrated, but then immigrants must also take responsibility. Going and covering ones face and not showing who you are, makes this process difficult,” she declared.