By: Moja Dolenjska
The internal regulations of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Novo Mesto did not allow the wearing of headscarves or hijabs during clinical practice due to hygiene standards. In November 2024, a Muslim student turned to the Advocate of the Principle of Equality and the Human Rights Ombudsman, who quickly acted through the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation to ensure the faculty was required to amend its regulations, reports Dnevnik.
The faculty’s rules set strict guidelines on how students must dress to ensure appropriate hygiene standards during clinical practice and lab exercises. Among other requirements, students must wear a prescribed uniform, and skirts are not allowed. This policy upset one Muslim student, who filed a complaint with the Advocate of the Principle of Equality and the Human Rights Ombudsman.
Both authorities intervened with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, which pressured the faculty to amend its regulations. As a result, the faculty revised its rules to allow the wearing of hijabs during practice and exercises. The new policy states: “Wearing a headscarf is permitted, provided it is made of washable material (capable of being washed at 90 degrees). The headscarf must not be loose and must be tucked into the collar of the upper garment.”