the goan I network
PANAJI
Taking cognisance of a recent case where a candidate was disallowed to appear for her NET exam for sporting a ‘hijab’, the Director of Higher Education Prasad Lolayekar has taken up cudgels on behalf of the victim and written to the Director General of the National Testing Agency seeking answers.
Stating that there were no rules specified that dis-allowed wearing a hijab to answer the National Eligibility Test (NET), Lolayekar has demanded to know on what grounds Safina Khan Soudagar was not allowed to answer the NET.
“Prima facie it appears that there are no rules specified on the website or elsewhere concerning the exams, specially with regards to restriction on hijab or a particular dress code. Therefore, she should have been allowed to appear for the exam,” stated Lolayekar in his letter, which was sent to the NTA earlier this week. He added, “If for any reason hijab is not allowed, then the same should be clearly mentioned in the instruction.”
Further, Lolayekar has expressed to the Director General of the NTA, that religious sentiments should be taken into consideration. “We also feel that conductors and examiners should be sensitive enough towards personal liberties and religious sentiments,” he wrote.
The Directorate of Higher Education has demanded a copy of the written instructions issued to various exam centers on the acceptable dress code while appearing for the NET. The letter also adds that clear instructions should be specified on the exam website. “We would appreciate if clear instructions are specified on (the) website / admit card, so that candidates are well aware of the terms and conditions (with) regards to the dress code, specially keeping in mind all faiths,” concluded the letter.
Safina Khan Soudagar, a candidate who was to appear for NET in Psychology on December 18, was allegedly not allowed to do so on the grounds that she was wearing a hijab. The officials had allegedly told her that she would need to answer the entire exam without her hijab, for “security purposes.”
However, Safina stood her ground, and has taken up the matter with the Directorate of Higher Education, Women’s Commission, and Human Rights Commission.
