Schools to be reminded: religious instruction is illegal
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006New Zealands’ Education Ministry today briefed officials on new guidelines being sent to primary schools in the next few months. The guidelines are a response to a “modest stream” of complaints about compulsory religious instruction in schools, which is against the law (New Zealand Herald: “Assembly prayers illegal, schools to be told“):
The guideline would advise schools that:
* “Whole of school” religious activities, for example at assemblies, should be avoided as they may put indirect pressure on pupils to participate.
* Religious instruction and observances should be provided by voluntary instructors rather than staff.
* Activities should only be provided in a separate voluntary class before school, at lunchtime, after school, or during a period assigned for optional activities.
However, due to the political sensitivity over Māori culture, the guidelines appear to discriminate over which beliefs pupils should be exposed to.
A briefing paper presented to MPs said overtly religious karakia were allowed in kura kaupapa as long as parents were advised they were part of the institution’s special character.
This was because they were inextricably intertwined with Maori culture and custom.
