By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-03-27 06:01:28 | Updated at 2025-03-30 11:24:09
3 days ago
An east London school could be forced to close on Monday due to teachers celebrating the forthcoming Eid celebrations.
In a letter to parents, seen by GB News, the headteacher of Robert Clack School of Science in Dagenham wrote: "Eid is an important religious festival in the Islamic faith and supported by many of our staff, pupils and their families."
They noted when the school had initially planned the calendar for this academic year, it was anticipated that Eid would fall on March 30th.
However, there is a "strong possibility" that it will now fall on Monday 31st.
"If this is the case, we expect that a significant portion of our staff will submit requests to leave, which will subsequently create a challenge in maintaining adequate staffing levels to ensure the health, safety and smooth operation of the school for our pupils," the headteacher wrote.
If it doesn't prove possible to "secure sufficient staffing", they went on, the school will be left with "no alternative" but to close for the day.
Robert Clack School of Science could be forced to close on Monday due to teachers celebrating the forthcoming Eid celebrations
They note that the "decision will not be taken lightly" and that the school is "exploring all options" to stay open, adding that a final decision is expected to be made on Friday.
A spokesperson for the comprehensive confirmed to GB News that a decision will be made on Friday.
Eid al-Fitr, also known as the 'festival of breaking the fast', marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting for Muslims.
In UK schools, Eid celebrations can involve acknowledging the holiday, allowing students time off, and potentially incorporating cultural activities or lessons about the festival.
It is not unusual for schools across the country to set their own rules for Eid, but the suggestion that the headteacher may be left with no choice but to close due to inadequate staffing has riled GB News regular Paul Embery.
The political commentator, who grew up in Dagenham and attended nearby All Saints Catholic School, felt that the head teacher's wording implied they had "no control" over the several teachers who plan to submit requests for leave in order to celebrate the festival.
"Plainly the headteacher could refuse those requests if they were likely to impact on the ability of the school to function. So why doesn’t he do so? He seems to be putting the desire of teachers to celebrate their particular religious festival over the educational needs of his students," he said.
Embery suspects this is another example of the phenomenon of "asymmetric multiculturalism", which claims has "taken hold in our country, and by which those belonging to the majority culture and identity are pressured into celebrating other cultures and identities while suppressing or downplaying their own".
It is not unusual for schools across the country to set their own rules for Eid
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He told GB News: "This sort of thing just stirs resentment in the majority and leaves them feeling like they no longer recognise the country they grew up in. Many people are sick and tired of it. Quite understandably."
It comes days after it emerged that Hampshire had effectively banned Easter.
Norwood Primary School informed parents that neither the Easter Bonnet Parade nor the Easter Service would take place this year.
Headteacher Stephanie Mander explained the decision was made to promote inclusivity.
"By not holding specific religious celebrations, we aim to create a more inclusive atmosphere that honours and respects the beliefs of all our children and their families," she said.
