The minister of higher education has said that women in Syria are barred from wearing the niqab full-face veil while attending university.

Syrian media has revealed that the decree follows a pronouncement by his counterpart, the minister of education, that disallowed fully veiled schoolteachers in lower and infant schools. Last month, around 1,200 schoolteachers wearing the face veil were dismissed from their jobs.

The Minister of Higher Education Ghiath Barakat said that the ban in universities was done to promote moderation within society.

He made the decision based on the requests of parents who demanded their daughters be educated in a place that is free aspects of extremism. Concern over the use of the veil was highest among parents whose children attended private universities, he said.

A spokesman for the education ministry further said that Barakat also discussed the issue with presidents of universities this week.

The official said, "The minister declared his objection to the face veil which, he argued, is against academic principles and campus regulations." (With Inputs from Agencies)