MANILA, Philippines -- Education Secretary Armin Luistro clarified on Thursday (July 25th) a government directive issued last week that seemed to order female Muslim teachers to take off their face coverings in class, AFP reported.

Luistro stressed that the guidelines -- intended primarily for teachers in the southern Philippines -- are neither mandatory nor meant to curtail religious rights.

"I want to make it clear that the Department of Education order was not meant to impinge on the religious rights of Muslim teachers," Luistro told AFP. "If they feel that strongly about it, then they won't be forced to do it. There will be no penalties imposed."

He said the reason for lifting the veil would be to make teachers better understood, with students able to read their lips as well as hear their words.

Many Filipino Muslim women traditionally wear the "hijab" veil which covers their hair and ears, neck and chest.

But some of them additionally wear the "niqab" which covers the nose, cheeks, mouth and chin, leaving only their eyes exposed.