World | UK
Manchester school bans boy with moustache
Akaash Iqbal has now missed nearly two weeks of schooling and last night his parents accused the school of jeopardising his education.
- Daily Mail
- Published: 22:48 July 2, 2009
Manchester: It is a rite of passage for teenage boys - the often ridiculed appearance of a first moustache.
But when Akaash Iqbal, 14, came into school with a slightly hairy upper lip it turned out to be no laughing matter.
He was sent home and told not to return unless he shaved it off. But he and his family say the school is overreacting over a "bit of fluff" and refuse to remove it.
Akaash has now missed nearly two weeks of schooling and last night his parents accused the school of jeopardising his education.
His father Asif Mahmoud, 42, said: "It's a nonsense. He's not shaving - he's only 14 and if he starts now he'll have to do it for the rest of his life.
"They told us the moustache was not part of the uniform. I thought it was a joke at first.
"It is only a bit of fluff - you could hardly call it a moustache but he is just a child and shouldn't have to shave this young.
"They should make it a girls' school. I'm honestly staggered by it.
"I had a call telling me to have a razor on standby, shave Akaash when he got home and send him back."
He added: "I wasn't going to do that. He's just a growing boy. He'd end up with stubble all over his face by the time he's 16."
Mahmoud said his son is still at home and he is due to meet school officials soon to discuss the matter.
The incident happened at Manchester Academy in Moss Side, Manchester. The charity-run school has a uniform policy that even staff are expected to comply with.
A spokesman for the school, which has more than 700 pupils, said it was a standard requirement that all children are clean shaven.
She said: "The Academy has established rules on personal appearance and dress which students are expected to adhere to."
Your comments
And then they speak of freedom...
M. I. A.
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 15:48
Share this article
UK
Tough love moulds young minds best
Wanted man sends in replacement photo
Two British ticketholders share £90m jackpot
Mum dies trying to save son from blaze
Meeting the Queen with pen tucked behind ear!
Brown under fire over Afghanistan policies
Politician could get time in prison after admitting expenses scam
Call for scientific advisers to be free from interference
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Ajtebi's phenomenal assent
The former camel jockey was at the peak of his powers when upstaging Garret Gomez
-
US pushing for more aid to Philippines
Obama administration eyeing $667m security assistance package
-
Mohammad launches H1N1 campaign
Shaikh Mohammad was the first one to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
