Dear Editor,
I have been following with interest the exchange of ideas and perspectives on the issue of religious education in schools.
I am aware that religion is a very personal and sensitive matter which ideally should be dealt with at the level of the home and the church. The role of the education system, regardless of public or private, is fundamentally to provide children with a scientific world view and to develop enquiring minds and innovative thinking. Truth and objectivity should be pursued by way of discovery. Basic assumptions of man and society should be challenged. The idea of a single truth should give way to multiple truths especially when it comes to matters of philosophy and sociology.
I strongly believe that the state should remain secular in keeping with our Constitution. There should be no promotion of religion or religious education in our schools. Instead, the focus should be on the teaching of social and sensitive issues especially given our plurality and ethnic diversity.
We have come a long way from the days of dual control of schools when the Church had dominant control over the management and content of education delivery. It is imperative for the State to ensure that there are no slippages back to that bygone chapter in our history.
Yours faithfully,
Hydar Ally
