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Senedd protest for 'bangle' girl Senedd protest for 'bangle' girl
(about 9 hours later)
Protesters will voice their support for a teenager excluded from a school for wearing a Sikh bangle. A protest has taken place outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay supporting a Sikh teenager excluded from school for wearing a religious bangle or Kara.
Sarika Singh, 14, has not attended Aberdare Girls' School, Cynon Valley, since 5 November and a legal challenge has been filed at the High Court.Sarika Singh, 14, has not attended Aberdare Girls' School, Cynon Valley, since 5 November and a legal challenge has been filed at the High Court.
The cross-party protest will call for revised school uniform guidance to be issued as soon as possible. The cross-party protest has called for revised school uniform guidance to be issued as soon as possible.
The Welsh Assembly Government said fresh guidance will be issued shortly on a range of school uniform issues. The Welsh Assembly Government said fresh guidance would be issued shortly.
Aberdare Girls' School bans all jewellery saying the policy ensures equality.Aberdare Girls' School bans all jewellery saying the policy ensures equality.
Sarika has been receiving tuition at home since her exclusion in November and is eager to return to school. 'Discrimination'
Sarika has been receiving tuition at home since her exclusion in November and says she is eager to return to school.
"The protest is for the Welsh assembly (government) guidelines, they've had four years now to look through them," Sarika said."The protest is for the Welsh assembly (government) guidelines, they've had four years now to look through them," Sarika said.
"They said they were going to issue them at the beginning of 2008, now 2008 is here we want to know where the guidelines are.""They said they were going to issue them at the beginning of 2008, now 2008 is here we want to know where the guidelines are."
After the lunchtime protest at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, an assembly government spokesperson said new guidance associated with school uniform policies would be available by the end of the week.
Aberdare Girls' School only allows ear studs and a wrist-watchAberdare Girls' School only allows ear studs and a wrist-watch
Before the lunchtime protest at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood said: "I think the school has made a mistake in Sarika's case, which has been partly caused by the absence of clear Welsh guidance on uniform policy. "The guidance will cover equality, health and safety and discrimination issues," she said.
"I don't want to blame the school. I want to find a solution that other pupils and families do not have to go through this distressful process in the future." "There is no legislation specifically covering the wearing of school uniform."
Ms Wood is also expected to call for a review of the powers of school governors. She added it was a matter for the courts whether or not a school uniform policy unlawfully breaches the Race Relations Act 1976.
"In the past year I have dealt with a number of cases where constituents have had serious concerns about the decisions of school governors," she added. "School uniform and appearance issues including the wearing of jewellery, are local matters for individual schools to decide upon," the spokesperson added.
"Governing bodies are obliged to take into account race and sex discrimination legislation when deciding on a school uniform policy.
An application for judicial review of Sarika's exclusion is awaiting adjudication at the High Court.An application for judicial review of Sarika's exclusion is awaiting adjudication at the High Court.
'Obliged' Governors
Campaign group, Liberty, made the challenge, saying the school had breached race relations and human rights laws.Campaign group, Liberty, made the challenge, saying the school had breached race relations and human rights laws.
It said it also breached a decision made by the Lords which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans to school. It said the policy also breached a decision made by the Lords which allows Sikh children to wear items representing their faith, including turbans, to school.
School governors rejected her request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research" examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail. School governors rejected Sarika's request to wear the bangle after a "significant period of research" examining the uniform policy and human rights legislation in detail.
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council has told the governors of Aberdare Girls School it would no longer give them any more support or financial assistance. Rhondda Cynon Taff council told the governors of Aberdare Girls School it would no longer give them any more support or financial assistance.
The council said it initially helped the governors in preparing a response to the case put forward by Liberty.The council said it initially helped the governors in preparing a response to the case put forward by Liberty.
Policy However, it said, legally, the decision was one for the school's governors not the local education authority.
However it said legally, the decision was one for the school's governors not the local education authority.
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said there was no legislation specifically covering the wearing of school uniform.
"Whether or not a school uniform policy unlawfully breaches the Race Relations Act 1976 is a matter for the courts," he added.
"School uniform and appearance issues, including the wearing of jewellery, are local matters for individual schools to decide upon.
"Governing bodies are obliged to take into account race and sex discrimination legislation when deciding on a school uniform policy," he said.