Recently, a video of a female teacher wearing a black headscarf in a classroom in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province, was exposed online, sparking controversy and reports. The local education bureau announced its decision to handle the situation, with the school principal, the involved female teacher, and others being criticized throughout the system. The official response has stirred up controversy.
With 2.738 million followers on Weibo and recognized as the director of the “Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Research Center for Science and Atheism,” Xi Wuyi recently posted screenshots on Weibo showing a teacher giving a lecture in a classroom while wearing a black headscarf. Another screenshot from a chat conversation with the Xunhua Salar Autonomous County Education Bureau indicates that the teacher in question, Ma Ying, teaches at the Xingshui Township Central School in Xunhua County.
Recently, the Xunhua Salar Autonomous County Education Bureau released an official document online regarding the handling decision of the “teacher wearing a black headscarf in class” incident.
According to the document, the handling decision includes: Han Wenkui, a member of the bureau’s party committee, issuing a written inspection during the party committee meeting; the Communist Party branch of Qingshui Middle School, teacher Ma Ying, principal Han Changqing of Qingshui Middle School, and principal Ma Zhihai of Qingshui Central School being criticized throughout the system; and the education bureau’s party committee conducting a thorough inspection for Xunhua County Committee members.
In its handling opinion, the Xunhua Salar Autonomous County Education Bureau stated that starting from the autumn semester in September, a four-month “professional ethics and conduct special rectification” will be carried out throughout the system.
This incident has touched upon several sensitive and complex topics, including religious freedom and individual rights, thereby attracting significant attention and discussion. Some netizens who oppose the official handling decision believe that a person’s faith can coexist with their professional identity, as long as they do not actively promote or interfere, it should not be seen as a problem.