Parents will be required to give explicit permission in writing for their children to receive religious instruction at state schools under a planned law change.

It may be the beginning of the end of primary schools offering religious instruction.

Education Minister Chris Hikpkins told the Herald he believes in secular education and does not believe schools should be offering religious instruction.

"But we need a bit more of a national conversation about that before we get into that," he said. Read more

Christchurch mother Tanya Jacob and the Secular Education Network are pressing for changes to the law in this regard.

They have laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Ms Jacob said her son felt discriminated against and was made to wash dishes when he opted out of religious instruction at his school.

Section 78 of the Education Act, 1964, allows up to one hour a week or 20 hours a year of religious instruction in state schools, at times when the school is deemed to be closed.

This has to be approved by the school's board of trustees after consultation with their principal.

Stuff.co.nz reported Ms Parata saying that if parents don't want to have their children going to a school that offers religious instruction, then they can choose another school.

Christianity was where New Zealand's "traditional history" came from, she said.

"The country as a whole at a public national level still has a view about the place of that in our society."

Ms Parata predicted the role of religion in education could eventually change, as the population "decides that that is what it wants to happen".

The majority of schools would have to have a problem in this area, before she would consider any kind of review.

Labour education spokesman Chris Hipkins said religion in schools was a "vexed area" and he would be open to a review.

A SEN survey that gained 1663 responses from 1833 New Zealand state primary and intermediate schools found that 37.7 per cent offered religious instruction.

Some schools are adopting an "opt-in" approach for religious instruction, rather than the traditional "opt-out" approach, to avoid controversy.

Sources

• Stuff.co.nz
• The Press
• Education Act section 78
• Image: Radio Live

For

Why should New Zealand primary schools continue to offer a Christian religious education programme to students?

Because we live in a global village and therefore primary school students should have the opportunity to learn about the various religions in our world. The Churches Education Commission provides a Christian-based religious education programme. Other religious organisations have equal rights to provide religious-based education programmes in schools.

Because the curriculum we use teaches students the fundamental values upon which our civil society is built, for example: treat others as we would like to be treated, be honest, forgive others, look after people who are less fortunate than you.

Because the Bible is a great work of literature; this ancient book has influenced great works of art, inspired Broadway shows, and has been influential in shaping cultures around the world. Its stories and ideas are embodied in history and literature. This is not to say that other religions don't also have holy books that they read from and hold in high regard; it's important students in an education environment have the opportunity of learning about the religions that have shaped the world in which we live.

Against

The Human Rights Commission in 2009 published guidelines about religion in schools, and it made a sharp distinction between "religious instruction" and "religious education". Religious instruction means programmes that promote a single religion and invite children to make a decision about it. Religious education means programmes that are multi-cultural, and don't invite a decision. Continue reading

Sources

• The New Zealand Herald
• Image: Urban Christian News