Muslim teachers in Scotland face discrimination after being forced to take unpaid leave to observe holy days, a union claims.

School holidays are “heavily orientated towards a western Christian background” so teachers enjoy Christmas and Easter off, but minorities must take unpaid leave for holy days such as Eid in some council areas.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the largest teaching union, backed a motion at its annual general meeting to investigate schools that deny teachers time off for religious observance.

James McIntyre, a member of the EIS anti-racist subcommittee, said school policies on religious observance were not routinely published, but those whose policies were transparent revealed “time off for religious observance wasn’t regarded as a normal holiday”.

He said: “If you wanted to do it you would have to take it off unpaid. If you play a sport to a particular level, or like me you are a qualified national referee, I can get time off to go and referee at an event and I will get paid for it.

“The last I checked being a referee or a sportsperson was not a protected characteristic [under the Equality Act], so why do I get favourable treatment over someone who has a right to be able to celebrate their religion?”