The
education ministry’s recent circular permitting and supporting a religious
group to carry out preaching activities in educational institutions once again
shows that the ministry is not a reliable agency to deal with national
education. Policies are made on the run.
They
are not supported with authoritative advice or with findings from research,
especially in areas such as religion in education.
There
is no consultation with parents.
Or
teachers.
Or
the public.
They
flout the very principles of education they are supposed to defend. Policies have
become the whims and fancies of those who have the power to make rules. They appear not to realize the lifelong impact their policies have on
children and the harm they will do them and the future of this country if policies are not
carefully made.
Education
is not the personal fief of the minister or any of its officials, whatever
their rank. Their first duty is to observe and comply with the laws that
created their office and their functions. The laws have established two
national councils to consider and advise on policies on education. The Minister
and the ministry have a legal duty to process policies such as this through
those councils. Instead, they proceed as authoritarians as if they have a
personal right over such issues as the proselytization of religion in
educational institutions.
National
unity, equality of access to education, the equal treatment of all citizens are
some of the objectives of national education. How are these objectives served
by the ministry’s circular on religious proselytism in educational institutions?
If religion is an important part of education (there is a body of research that supports this), then why are the other religions not taught and preached. If the education ministry is only concerned with one section of the students, who are expected to care for the others?
The
ministry cannot blow hot and cold on these policies and not expect