Religion in schools under the microscope

Human Rights Commission
Media Release
24 August 2007

Religion in schools under the microscope

Teaching about religions, religious education and religious observance in schools will all come under the microscope at a forum on Monday afternoon at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland.

There was controversy last year when the Ministry of Education told a Select Committee they were going to issue new guidelines on the way religious observance is included in state primary and secondary schools.

The Ministry was considering moving from an “opt out” to an “opt in”provision for participation in religious education and religious observance such as school assemblies. Following a public outcry, Education Minister Steve Maharey had the Ministry put the idea aside and leave decisions up to individual Boards of Trustees.

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said the Human Rights Commission receives some complaints from individual parents about the issues, and that Boards of Trustees need to know the ins and outs of the law and, in particular, provisions in the Human Rights Act and Bill of Rights Act.

Commission guidance on these matters will be discussed at the forum, and Auckland University Law Professor and human rights specialist Paul Rishworth will set out the human rights considerations. School Trustees Association National Councillor Ben Taufua and Kohia Terrace Primary School Principal Mark Barrett representing the NZEI will take part in a panel discussion to follow.

In publicity on a French Christian website, Le Chretien, VisionNetwork NZ Executive Director Glyn Carpenter called on concerned Christians to make the effort to attend the forum. He said if there was not significant input by Christians into the discussion, minority groups would end up driving the issue.

Mr de Bres said there had been enrolments from a wide range of groups, including the Exclusive Brethren and the Federation of Islamic Associations, as well as people from the education sector.

The forum will take place from 2-5.30pm and is open to the public:

* Victoria University Religious Studies Professor Paul Morris will give an overview of the issues from 2-2.30pm.

* Education Ministry Chief Executive Karen Sewell will speak on teaching about religions in the new curriculum at 2.30pm, and will be joined by Catholic Education Chief Executive Pat Lynch and Auckland University Educationist Margaret Bendall.

* Religious instruction and observance will be discussed at 4.15pm.

Members of the public are free to participate in all of the sessions.

The event is part of the New Zealand Diversity Forum and is organised by the Auckland City Council, the Human Rights Commission and the Victoria University Religious Studies Programme.

An interfaith event will also be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral on Sunday evening at 7.30 pm.

ENDS

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