A new approach in resolving disputes over religion at South African schools should be adopted by government, says opposition Freedom Front leader Pieter Mulder.
In a statement, the leader of the small Afrikaner based party — with strong Christian roots — said the government’s present proposals ”are largely based on the American model… which allows no religion in schools at all”.
The indignant reaction of religious groups, he said, was to be expected.
He proposed using either the Dutch or Indian models.
”In the Dutch model, the government calculates how much of the government’s budget for education should be spent on each pupil. The child and his parents may then choose the school that the child would prefer to attend.
”The relevant amount is then paid over to the particular school. In this way Muslim, Greek, Jewish and Christian schools, each with its own ethos, are maintained without any problems.
”In India their constitution makes it possible for every religious and linguistic group to have its own school on government expense.”
The present proposals of the education department would force parents, who prefer a specific religious approach, to send their children to private schools, argued Mulder.
”This will be discriminating and unfair because these parents will then have to pay twice. They will have to pay taxes for government’s education, which they will not make use of, as well as school funds, for private education.”
Last month Education Minister Kader Asmal said the matter of religion in schools was expected to come before the council of education ministers (including provincial education ministers) in June.
Western Cape principals appeared to support the view that decisions on religion at schools should be taken by school governing bodies, reported Western Cape Premier Marthinus van Schalkwyk last month. – I-Net Bridge