Amsterdam  - The burka, a head-to-toe covering worn by some Muslim women, will be banned from Dutch schools and universities, Education Minister Ronald Plasterk said Monday.

The labour minister said in a letter to parliament that he was preparing a bill to outlaw the garb from mid-2009.

Not only pupils and teachers, but anyone entering the school or university premises will be prohibited from wearing the burka, he said.

The burka, also known as a niqab in some traditions, is a wide dress covering not only the entire body, hair and neck, but also the face, leaving only a slit for the eyes.

The minister said the dress obstructs smooth communication, which according to Plasterk is a major requirement for a proper education.

All schools that receive government funding, including Muslim ones, will be obliged to enforce the ban, Plasterk said.

The news comes after Health Minister Ab Klink recently announced he is investigating the possibility of banning the burka from the health care industry.

The Dutch government is meanwhile preparing a new dress code that would see the burka and any other clothing covering the face banned from ministries.

The government is hoping that provincial and municipal authorities will follow this example.

A study conducted last year said around 100 women in the Netherlands regularly wear a burka. (dpa)