Quebec Expands Secularism Law to Ban Face Coverings in Schools

Quebec Expands Secularism Law to Ban Face Coverings in Schools
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The Quebec government has announced an extension of its 2019 secularism law to prohibit face coverings in schools, including for students and staff. The move applies to all educational employees, from teachers to support staff, and will also extend to state-funded daycare and early childhood centers.

Minister of Secularism Jean-François Roberge said the policy aims to uphold secular principles consistently across educational institutions and reflects public support for reinforcing the province’s secular identity. The decision follows media reports of students performing religious practices, such as Muslim prayers, in classrooms and corridors.

The law has drawn criticism from Islamic organizations, including the Canadian Islamic Forum, which warned that it infringes on fundamental freedoms and urged the government to address social issues without targeting religious expression. Observers note that Quebec’s approach reflects a strict model of secularism, seen by supporters as protecting local identity but by critics as limiting religious and cultural rights in a diverse society.