This resource provides information about Sikh religious practices that have implications for NSW public schools and the diverse communities they serve.
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the late fifteenth century (1469). The word ‘Sikh’ means learner or ‘seeker of truth’. Guru Nanak taught that Sikhism consists of being mindful of God, meditating God’s name and attributes, and reflecting Godliness in all daily activities. The Sikh way of life is based on Nam Japna – remembering God’s name with every breath; Kirat Karni – working hard and making an honest living; Vand Ke Chakna – sharing the fruits of your labour to help others; and control of Kaam (desire), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (attachment) and Hankar (pride). The Guru Granth Sahib is the ultimate spiritual authority for Sikhs and is treated with utmost reverence and respect. The text contains the teachings and devotional compositions by Sikh Gurus and is at the heart of Sikh worship. The central Sikh belief, Ek Onkar (one Om), holds that there is one Creator or God who is formless, genderless, without beginning or end, and beyond description. Sikhs believe in the equality of all persons irrespective of their caste, colour, gender, nationality and/or religion. They believe in karma and reincarnation. The goal of every Sikh is to break free of the cycle of reincarnation and become one with the creator.
Worldwide, there are about 25 million Sikhs today. In the 2021 Census, 0.8% of the Australian population identified as practicing Sikhism. In NSW, Sikhism was practised by 0.6% of the population, making it the 4th most common non-Christian religion.
Sikhs worship in a temple called Gurdwara or Gurdwara Sahib. The most important area of the Gurdwara is the Darbar Sahib is a spacious room housing the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (also known as the Adi Granth) on an elevated throne.
All visitors to a Gurdwara should:
School leaders should endeavour to develop a consultative partnership with their local community and faith leaders to ensure the needs of their Sikh students are met in culturally responsive and ways.
Students and staff who are visiting a Gurdwara or other places of worship on school excursions should demonstrate respect by observing expected behaviours.
Sikhs can pray at any time of the day or night. However, the expected prayer times are before sunrise and sunset and before going to bed. Generally, a Sikh meditates on the name of God by reciting his name throughout the day.
There are no accommodations required to support Sikh students in this aspect of their faith. However, under the Multicultural principles of the , 'all individuals and institutions should respect and make provisions for the culture, language and religion of others'.
NSW public schools should make arrangements that allow Sikh students to meet their religious observances if possible. This should be done in consultation with parents, students, and their school community. Consent for student participation in religious activities should be provided by parents/carers. See Other activities of a religious nature in schools procedures.
Protocols for participation are agreed upon with students and parents and a staff member with duty of care is assigned to supervise.
Sikh holy days and observances revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Gurus who developed the faith’s beliefs. Their birthdays and/or days of martyrdom, called Jayanti, Gurpurab, or Prakash Utsav are times of celebration and prayer. The dates for Sikh holy days and observances follow the lunar calendar and may differ from year to year. Dates may also vary due to regional or sectarian differences.
The following are the most significant:
Some students may be absent from school due to family celebrations of Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali), and Guru Nanak Jayanti. The department’s Student attendance in NSW public schools procedures allow for principals to grant students leave to participate in recognised religious festivals or ceremonial occasions (PDF 71Kb).
Recommendations of practice include:
Some Sikh students may wear a patka (cloth) on their head and transition to a pugg (turban) once they have been through amrit sanskar – the initiation (baptism) ceremony.
Some Sikh students may also carry a baaj (also known as a salai) – a specially designed blunt needle used for tucking hair from inside a turban, then smoothing out the folds of the turban.
Baptised Sikh students (Amritdhari Sikh) are required to wear the following five symbols of their faith (known as the Five K's):
Each of the Five K’s has a special religious significance: kesh – holiness and simplicity; kara – self-restraint; kanga – a clean mind and body; kacha – readiness for battle; kirpan – obligation to defend oneself and those in poverty and dispossession.
The Uniforms at school procedures state that the school uniform must 'be inclusive of students from diverse backgrounds and accommodate cultural and religious requirements.' The Legal Issues Bulletin 22: Knives in schools provides guidelines for baptised Sikh students to safely wearing a Kirpan at school.
Schools may also need to consult with parents/carers and students and agree on the safe use of the baaj to ensure it complies with Work health and safety and Student health and wellbeing policies.
Accommodations could include:
An Amritdhari Sikh must not be asked to take any of the Five K’s off. Young Sikh males should not be asked to cut their hair or to not wear a turban at school.
The Religious intolerance webpage provides information and support on reports of religious intolerance.
Most initiated (baptised) Sikhs adhere to a lacto-vegetarian diet which also excludes fish and eggs. Non-initiated Sikhs may choose to consume eggs, fish, dairy products and meat (excluding halal or kosher).
Schools should discuss food preparation and ingredients with canteen staff to identify foods that will meet the dietary needs of Sikh students.
When the school provides food for Sikh students or families at school functions or during excursions and camps, and/or when parents/carers bring food to school for cultural celebrations, lacto-vegetarian options should be made available in a separate area.
Teachers of food technology and hospitality courses should:
Schools should maintain open communication with Sikh students and families regarding their dietary requirements and make accommodations where possible.
The department’s Student health and wellbeing policy states that 'schools are required to support students on health and wellbeing issues in a way that does not discriminate unlawfully against any student'.
Mixed gender contact sports, swimming, and Learn to Swim programs may raise concerns for some Sikh families.
Some families may object to physical contact between genders and may expect their children to dress modestly during swimming activities and to avoid swimming in the same pool, particularly during adolescence. These cultural practices can apply across a range of ages, depending on each family's interpretation of modesty and religious guidelines. Girls and boys should be allowed to participate in all sports while wearing traditional head coverings.
To accommodate cultural and religious diversity and in line with the , and department policies and procedures Religious education and special education in ethics, Other activities of a religious nature in schools and Controversial issues in schools, schools may:
Open discussions with students and their families are crucial to ensure a sense of inclusion and cultural safety.
Where a concern has been raised and where possible, schools should:
Some Sikh parents/carers may object on religious grounds to their children attending class when sexuality and/or LGBTQIA+ themes, are being discussed as part of the curriculum.
To assist in alleviating any concerns that parents may have, it is recommended that schools provide advice in advance to parents/carers on the content of lessons covering topics on drug, alcohol, sexuality, sex, respectful relationships, power and abuse, and how the content will be delivered.
Providing this information in advance gives parents the opportunity to discuss concerns with the school and where possible for schools to make appropriate adjustments to the curriculum.
In some instances, it may be acceptable to parents if topics relating to sexuality and sexual health are delivered to single sex groups of students by a teacher of the same gender.
If, after following the process outlined in Other activities of a religious nature in schools procedures, the school’s suggested adjustments to curriculum delivery and discussions with parents/carers fail to alleviate their concerns, parents/carers may send a written notice to curriculumenquiry@det.nsw.edu.au to apply for an exemption under Section 26 of the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Act 1990.
Where parents/carers conscientiously object on religious grounds to a particular course of study and apply for an exception, it is important for schools to have a conversation with families to advise them of any educational implications for their child. Students are expected to participate in the curriculum until an exemption is granted. If granted, alternative lessons and/or activities in PDHPE may be provided. Schools should refer to the Controversial issues in schools and Other activities of a religious nature in schools procedures for more information.
The Supporting LGBTQIA+ communities in schools toolkit. This toolkit supports principals and school leaders to manage sentiment from students, parents and carers within their school community about sexuality, consent, inclusive family structures and LGBTQIA+ education.
The resource has been developed by Multicultural ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, with input from Curriculum, and in consultation with a representative of the Fateh Foundation and the Sikh Heritage Museum.
