Despite Muslims drive to strike a compromise, the French government gave a mixed signal, saying the ban could also force Muslim men to shave their beards.

French Education Minister Luc Ferry was quoted by the BBC as saying that the law, which will be debated in parliament next month, could ban hijabs, bandannas and beards if they are considered a sign of faith.

Ferry told a National Assembly legal committee hearing about the draft law that the definition of a religious symbol in the proposed law was broad so that pupils could not bypass it simply by deviating from a list of proscribed items.

Some Muslim girls use bandannas to cover their hair as an alternative to the traditional hijab, feeling it is easier to blend in to the crowd.

Asked about beards, as worn by many Muslims, Ferry said: "As soon as it becomes a religious sign and the code is apparent, it would fall under this law".

Growing beards is a great Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

However, Muslims differed regarding its ruling some of them state that it is mandatory and shaving it is forbidden while others view that it is an optional Sunnah and hence there is no harm in shaving it.

Jacques Myard, an MP from Chirac's ruling party, told the BBC that beards would not be an issue in schools.

"Beards are not at stake because we have young boys and they don't have beards," he was quoted by the BBC News Online as saying.

"This is more a question of discipline than any religious or political affair but I would say today that we are not facing a religious approach with the Muslims.

French opposition Socialists have described the proposals as misguided and unclear.

"This is putting a comic face on a very serious issue," Socialist deputy Julien Dray was quoted by the BBC News Online as saying.

The minister said Sikhs were not permitted by their religion to cut their hair, and suggested that they could wear caps.