ACCORDING to Government guidelines regarding religious education, “schools designated as having a religious character are free to make their own decisions in preparing their syllabuses”.
It has been reported that in a recent survey by Opinium, the results of which were weighted to ensure nationally representative criteria, 58 per cent of the people surveyed said faith schools should not be funded by the state, or should be abolished. Fewer than 30 per cent had no objections. Of those who had concerns, 60 per cent said faith schools promoted division and segregation.
At the very least these schools leave the options of the many who have a different faith, or no faith at all, severely diminished.
It seems to me that if a faith wants schools that teach only their religious outlook, they should pay for them without any state funding.
Paul Surman
Gateley
Horspath
Oxford
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