Muslim school governor banned for ‘undermining British values’

From The Times, The Guardian and the Birmingham Mail

A Muslim school governor at the heart of the Trojan horse controversy has been banned from having any involvement with schools after being accused of “undermining British values”.

The Department for Education (DfE) issued the ban on Tahir Alam, former chair of governors at Park View Educational Trust in Birmingham – the first time an order of this kind has been used.

Hardip Begol, (a Sikh name, if I am not mistaken – Sikhs generally know how many beans make five) director of assessment, curriculum, qualifications and accountability at DfE, said Alam had engaged in conduct “aimed at undermining the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths or beliefs.”

Alam, who passed the letter informing him of the ban to the Guardian, said he intended to appeal. Mr Alam has always denied any wrongdoing and branded the DfE’s claims against him “nonsensical”. “All the allegations against me have been put forward on the basis of hearsay and I strongly contest them.”

In a letter passed to the newspaper, Mr Alam was accused of putting pupils “at risk of vulnerability to radicalisation, promoted intolerance of difference and diversity and restricted their life chances by failing to provide pupils with the necessary learning and skills to flourish in modern, multicultural Britain.” The letter reportedly stated that any school employing Mr Alam in a management capacity, either paid or unpaid, would be shut down, while the DfE has rejected his 11-page rebuttal.

The DfE is expected to formally announce its decision to ban Alam on Wednesday.