A/56/253 Pack” and video, which provide advice and guidance on successful strategies to prevent and tackle all forms of bullying in school, including racist bullying. “Religious education must be provided for all pupils attending a maintained school. Syllabuses are drawn up by agreed syllabus conferences, which include representation from religious faiths and denominations represented in the local area. This should help to ensure that the wishes of faith communities are taken into account in designing the content of the syllabus. “Parents have the right to withdraw children from religious education if they wish. For pupils who have been withdrawn, schools can allow alternative religious education according to a particular faith or denomination. “Alternatively, parents can withdraw their children from school to receive elsewhere religious education of a kind the school is not able to provide. These provisions apply to all those, whether Christian, Muslim or members of other faiths, who wish their children to receive religious education solely in accordance with their own belief and traditions. “Responsibility for responding to the religious and cultural backgrounds of pupils rests with individual local education authorities and schools. Schools should be sensitive to cultural and religious requirements and to sex discrimination issues when setting their uniform policies. It should therefore be possible for schools to make arrangements for Muslim girls, who are required by their religion to dress modestly, to wear appropriate clothing in school colours. “The Department recognizes the cultural and religious needs of Muslim parents and children. Arrangements for religious education and collective worship are flexible, taking into account major Muslim religious festivals. Facilities are provided for Muslim prayers; halal food is available in school meals and the hijab can be worn. In order to avoid Muslim festivals, the Qualification and Curriculum Authority consults Muslim groups when setting dates for national examinations. “Employment for Muslim students (such as alleged failure at job applications only on the basis of religious dress for men and women; alleged dismissal for expressing a religious identity at work as well as alleged harassment and intimidation at work) “The UK Government is pleased that the Council of Ministers of the European Community agreed on 17 November to the Directive Establishing a General Framework for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation. It seeks to combat discrimination and harassment in employment on (among others) the grounds of religion and belief. “It is a framework directive. It is for member States to identify particular issues that need to be specified within their legislation and other measures established under this directive. Ministers are committed to consulting widely to ensure that these measures are both helpful and workable. They recognize that protection from discrimination is of particular importance to members of minority religions who feel particularly vulnerable due to the visible signs of their religions. The specific instances raised (workplace harassment and intimidation, unjustified rejection of job applicants solely on grounds of their 67