Schools in Ireland are forcing children of atheist, secular and minority faith families, into religious instruction and Catholic faith formation.
Source: irishnews.com
The Evangelical Alliance of Ireland (EAI) has joined Atheist Ireland and Irish Ahmadiyya Muslims in calling for reform to religious education (RE) to allow pupils to choose another subject in its place.
A joint study from the group based on hundreds of documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NCCA) says that the state-sponsored religious education course at second level should not be compulsory.
The EAI said it was seeking to “protect children from coercion and discrimination in the area of religious education,” the Irish News reported.
Around 85 per cent of Irish people say they are Catholics, but the group is concerned about school children being forced into religious instruction and Catholic faith formation.
The Atheist Ireland chairman Michael Nugent said that the existing RE course in schools “disrespects the philosophical convictions of atheist, secular and minority faith families”.
He added: “The minister for education should immediately issue a circular letter informing all schools at second level that the state religious education course is not compulsory and students can choose another subject, and schools should actively inform students and parents about this.”
Imam Ibrahim Noonan, the Imam of Galway Ahmadiyya Mosque, stressed the need for separation between state and religion.
“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has always adhered to the fact that religion and state are two different entities,” he said. “Therefore it views that secular knowledge should be given eminence within the school curriculum. The state must recognise the importance of the feelings and sentiments of those who practise a particular faith or belief system, whether that be a religious system or non religious system. What is important is that department of education recognise that no particular faith should have the monopoly in the schools, as the very question that can be asked is: which version of a particular religion is the correct one, and who will teach it? All that should be taught in state schools is the basic fundamentals of any faith system or non faith belief system is, including historical and morals, principles and ethics.”
The group’s call comes amid an ongoing debate about the… Read more at christiantoday.com
Categories: Europe, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, The Muslim Times, UK