NUT conference calls for religious teaching in schools
Teachers' conference calls for religious instruction in schools
Monday, 24, Mar 2008 07:51
The annual conference of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has called on schools to allow imams and rabbis to be allowed to teach at schools.
The body says the move will help improve social cohesion and prevent the segregation of communities in different religious schools.
In comments cited by the BBC, NUT general secretary Steven Sinnot said immigration from the Indian subcontinent had resulted in the large presence of the Hindu and Muslim faiths in the UK leading to a debate about whether faith schools should be available on the national level.
Speaking about the proposal to recommend theological teaching in schools, Mr Sinnot said: "This is more than simple religious education, it's religious instruction.
"There would be real benefits to all our communities and to youngsters if we can find a space for parents who are Roman Catholic, parents who are Church of England, parents who are Jewish, parents who are Muslim for them to have space for some religious instruction.
"In that way we could keep cohesion within communities," he added.
The teacher's body has been discussing whether faith schools should be a part of the state education system.
It is also set to vote on whether to strike over a dispute with the government over increased pay.