Norway has just voted to ban burkas and niqabs in schools

Norway has become the next European country to ban Islamic face veils such as the niqab and the burka.

In a vote in parliament on Tuesday, a bill was passed banning clothing that partially or fully obscured the face from being worn around schools.

The ban applies to teachers, students, staff at daycare centres and anyone in a 'teaching situation'.

Norway's parliamentary procedure sees voting spread over three days and the bill was backed by a majority in two rounds over the three days.

Party representatives from the Socialist Left, Red and Green parties voted against the bill, while the anti-immigration Progress Party revelled in the passing.

Åshild Bruun-Gundersen, an MP for the Progress Party told Nordic media Bergens Tidende:

This is very good news. When Progress in 2003 proposed a total ban on the niqab and burka, we were laughed at.

We see now that we have succeeded in bringing the political environment around to our viewpoint.

Bruun-Gundersen felt the need to brazenly add he believes Nordic politicians will be ready for a total ban on the niqab in public "in a few years’ time".

A similar ban was passed by Scandinavian neighbour Denmark last week and it was met with criticism by many human rights groups.

The niqab is a veil with a small slit for the eyes, while a burka covers the head and body.

Many schools and universities have voiced their distaste with the bill during the parliamentary presentation stage.

The Norwegian School of Economics called the ban "strange and dramatic" while others said it was outright unnecessary.

Bruun-Gundersen added:

The ban is a clear signal that in Norway we expect to see each other’s faces. We will continue to work towards a total ban.

The ban was initially announced last year.

More: Denmark banned women from wearing the burka and this is how people reacted