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BHA welcomes
'multi faith' call to end religious discrimination
in schools
(2 June 2009)
 The
British Humanist Association (BHA) has today welcomed
a call by a number of high-profile religious representatives,
to end discrimination in state-funded “faith
schools”. In a joint letter to The Times
newspaper, nine members of different religious
traditions, including Jewish, Muslim and Christian
representatives, describe exceptions in the Equality
Bill 2009, currently before Parliament, that allow
state-funded “faith schools” to discriminate
in admissions and employment as in breach of human
rights and ‘religiously offensive’.
Andrew Copson, BHA Director
of Education, said, ‘Most people, whether
religious or non-religious, oppose religious discrimination
in state-funded schools, and this joint letter
reinforces that. We too were deeply disappointed
that the Equality Bill 2009 has simply imported
the wide exceptions that allow state-funded “faith
schools” to discriminate in their admissions,
employment and curriculum.’
‘We believe that “faith
schools” are exclusive and divisive, and
there is a growing body of evidence that they
are damaging to social cohesion and actually create
socio-economic inequalities, as well as religious
segregation. It is one of our core aims to campaign
for an inclusive schools system, where children
of all different backgrounds and beliefs can learn
with and from each other. In terms of the Equality
Bill specifically, we will be working with others,
including the Accord coalition, to pressure Parliament
to outlaw religious discrimination in our schools.’
FULL TEXT OF LETTER
WITH SIGNATORIES
Sir, As members of
a nine religious traditions, we call on
MPs to eradicate two forms of discrimination
that breach human rights and are religiously
offensive, yet are currently enshrined in
the Equality Bill.
The first is the ability
of state- funded faith schools to reject
those deemed to belong to the “wrong
religion”, even if they live right
next to it, wish to attend and accept its
character. We believe such schools should
serve not only themselves but also the local
community.
The second is the law
that allows those same schools to reject
teachers who are fully qualified for a post,
but who are not of the school’s denomination.
At present, voluntary aided faith schools
are free to insist that even the geography
teacher practices the religion of the school.
This creates a highly insular outlook.
Many faith schools
maintain a religious ethos without this
discrimination, particularly voluntary controlled
schools and academies. We question what
sort of faith requires other schools to
discriminate against children and teachers.
Our motivation is religious: we take seriously
the command to love our neighbour as ourselves
and believe that means we must not segregate
our children from each other. Creating educational
ghettos smacks of weak faith and is a poor
recipe for social harmony.
We urge MPs of all
parties and beliefs to make sure that the
Bill does not permit state-sanctioned discrimination
to continue.
The Rev Jeremy Chadd
(C of E)
The Rev Steve Dick (Unitarian)
The Rev Marie Dove (Methodist)
Symon Hill (Quaker)
Jay Lakhani (Hindu)
The Rev Iain Mcdonald (URC)
Manzoor Moghal (Muslim)
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About the British Humanist
Association
The British Humanist Association
(BHA) is the national charity representing and
supporting the non-religious and campaigning for
an end to religious privilege and discrimination
based on religion or belief.
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