The regulatory body responsible for education standards in Victorian schools is investigating the Al-Taqwa Islamic college, following reports that the principal banned female students from cross-country running because he believed it may cause them to “lose their virginity”.
The deputy premier and education minister, James Merlino, confirmed on Thursday morning that the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority was investigating the claims.
Guardian Australia has contacted the college, in the western Melbourne suburb of Truganina, for comment.
According to Fairfax, a former teacher said the ban was implemented because of principal Omar Hallak’s belief that if females ran excessively, they could “lose their virginity”.
The teacher reportedly wrote to the state and federal education minister, saying; “The principal believes that there is scientific evidence to indicate that if girls injure themselves, such as break their leg while playing soccer, it could render them infertile”.
Female students at the school also wrote a letter to Hallak following the ban.
Fairfax reports that the students wrote: “This letter is about the cross country that has been cancelled. Aparantly [sic] it is because girls can’t run and that is really offensive to all the girls that were going to participate in the event.
“As long as girls are wearing appropriate clothes, we can run. As a principal you should treat all subjects equally.”
Guardian Australia has contacted the office of the federal education minister, Christopher Pyne, for comment.
Earlier this month, Pyne demanded an explanation from Hallak after he told students at the school that the terrorist organisation Islamic State was a western conspiracy led by the US, and that Israel did not exist.
The school is Victoria’s largest Muslim college. The My School website indicates it received more than $11m in commonwealth funding and $4.7m from the state government in 2013, the last year for which figures are available.
