London, July 2 (ANI): "Are you a terrorist?" It is a question that every foreign student, as young as five year-old, has to answer while applying to boarding schools in Britain.
According to reports, this is being implemented under the new UK Border Agency regulations, which came into force from June 1 this year, The Telegraph reports.
Students are being asked questions as- whether they have been charged in any country with a criminal offence.
"In times of either peace or war has the applicant ever been involved, or suspected of involvement, in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide?"
"Has the applicant ever, by any means or medium, expressed views that justify or glorify terrorist violence or that may encourage others to terrorist acts or other serious criminal acts?"
Meanwhile, the parents of children aged under-16 are also required to complete a detailed biometric immigration document.
Various schools across Britain has rejected the concept and criticised the whole basis of the regulation, urging the government to overhaul the applications procedure.
"These visa forms are clearly lacking a degree of common sense. Whilst it is important to have stringent visa checks in place, asking young children if they are terrorists is absurd. By over-loading overseas parents and children with unnecessary paperwork, the Government risks putting them off from coming to this country altogether," said David Laws, spokesman of the Lib Dem schools.
While, the UK Border Agency completely supported its decision to implement a tough selection procedure saying: "We make no apology for carrying out tougher checks, which are crucial to stopping abuses of the system and protecting those child students wanting to study in the United Kingdom." (ANI)