Belgian Teacher Defends Colleague Fired Over Headscarf

A Belgian teacher who wears a headscarf in the classroom says she was shocked by the dismissal of another teacher who refused to remove hers.

Khadija, 43, teaches mathematics and science at a Catholic secondary school in Zaventem. She has worn a headscarf for about 14 years and also wears it while teaching.

Her comments come after teacher Hadija Amajoud was dismissed by the provincial government of East Flanders. Amajoud had been teaching at a special education school in Assenede since 2022. Her contract was ended after she refused to teach without her headscarf.

Khadija says she does not understand why someone should lose a job because of a headscarf.

“I don’t understand how a woman with so much talent can lose her job because of her headscarf,” she said.

She believes the decision takes away an opportunity from someone who has a lot to offer.

“We should look at what is in our heads, not what is on our heads,” Khadija said.

She found a school where she felt accepted

Khadija says finding a school where she could teach while wearing her headscarf was not easy.

She studied industrial engineering before deciding to pursue a career in education. She later completed teacher training at the University of Antwerp.

During her training, she had difficulty finding a place for her teaching internship. She says two schools in Antwerp told her she could not complete her internship while wearing her headscarf.

Her university eventually helped her find another school where she could wear it. She completed her internship at the Catholic school in Zaventem where she now teaches.

“That caused a delay,” she said. “I had to find a school where I would be accepted for who I am.”

Khadija says she now feels completely comfortable in her workplace.

“When I stand in front of the class, I can simply be myself,” she said. “Everyone accepts me here. My headscarf is not an issue.”

A role model for students

Khadija says she has always looked up to teachers and now wants to be a role model for her students.

“I mainly want to be a role model,” she said. “Not every student has someone like that in their life.”

She teaches mainly mathematics and science. This school year is her first time working as a full-time teacher.

The school allows teachers from officially recognized religions in Belgium to wear religious head coverings, including the headscarf.

The school says this is part of its approach to a diverse school community and believes its teachers should reflect that diversity.

There is a different rule for students. Religious head coverings are not allowed for students at the school.

The school says adults are making their own choices, while students are still going through education and personal development.

For Khadija, however, her own experience has been positive.

“It is completely normal here,” she said. “Everyone is very friendly, both the students and the staff. I can really be who I want to be.”