An attempt by the National Secular Society to extend the age range
of pupils who would be able to exempt themselves from collective
worship and religious education was rebuffed in the House of Lords
this week. The government’s move flies in the face of advice
from a parliamentary watchdog on human rights.
During a debate on the Education and Inspections Bill, an amendment suggested by the NSS was tabled by Baroness Turner, and supported by Lord Avebury and Lord Taverne. It sought to make it possible for any pupil who was considered mature enough to make an informed choice to exempt themselves from collective worship and religious education. This was exactly what Parliament’s Human Rights watchdog had recommended but the Government had ignored. The government wants to restrict the right to opt out of collective worship only (and not religious education) to pupils aged 16 or over who are also sixth formers. It was even suggested that pupils who wanted to exercise this right would have to write a formal letter to the headteacher requesting it and explaining why.
Keith Porteous Wood, Executive Director of the National Secular Society, said: “Parents are entitled to withdraw their children from Religious Education or Collective Worship without giving any reason. But Education Minister Lord Adonis refused to accept an amendment to transfer this right to pupils considered adults for Human Rights purposes. The amendment was brought to implement a specific recommendation of the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
“We urge Lord Adonis to think again because he appears to be suggesting that even adult pupils should leave their Human Rights behind at the school gate. The Government’s refusal is an abuse of Human Rights. It is Dickensian for the state to legally require pupils below sixth form to “take part” in an act of worship, especially when two thirds of secondary school children are not religious (according to the Social Research Council).
“On Religious Education, the Government’s divergence from our Human Rights obligations is even greater. The Government will not allow any pupils, even those over 18, to withdraw themselves from Religious Education, yet parents can withdraw them at any age. It suits the churches’ case for them to give the impression that all Religious Education lessons are non-proselytising, but they are not. The law allows proselytising lessons in thousands of religious schools and in some of them pupils are even forced to watch pro-life films of aborted foetuses. It is outrageous that pupils considered adults for human rights purposes, and indeed even those who have reached the legal age of majority, should be forced to participate. The Human Rights proposal was not that the lessons discontinued, but simply that older pupils be given a choice.
“Even when it is a Human Rights obligation, the Government mantra of Choice is suddenly abandoned when it comes to religion. It has just dawned on the Government that its obsessive religiosity has got it into deep water on community cohesion. It is well past time it rethought its position on religion in education.
Read the whole debate here: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/61017-0002.htm (Lords Hansard 17 Oct 2006 : Column 697).
Lady Turner moves amendment http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200405/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/61017-0002.htm (Lords Hansard 17 Oct 2006 : Column 722)
JCHR report http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200506/jtselect/jtrights/247/24705.htm
NSS October 2006