Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - Opting Out of Religious Education: The Views of Young People from Minority Belief Backgrounds Seminar

15 September 2010

A projected funded by the AHRC/ESRC Religion and Society Programme Friday 17 September

By Alison Mawhinney, Ulrike Niens, Norman Richardson and Yuko Chiba

(Registration and coffee at 10am, seminar at 10:30am-12pm)

Canada Room, Lanyon Building, QUB

Background:

In many countries where religious education has a place in the education system, the right of parents to withdraw their children from such teaching (and related activities such as school worship) on grounds of conscience is enshrined in domestic and in international human rights law. The right to opt out is assumed sufficient to respect and protect the freedom of thought, conscience and belief of minority belief individuals in education systems which may cater for a diverse range of belief systems.

However, parental decisions to withdraw their children from religious education set students from minority belief backgrounds (including those who do not belong to any religion) apart from their peers during the school day. This division might shape young people’s relationship with their school and the wider community as well as their religious understanding. In addition, it can impact on their relationship with their parents and their belief community.

The research examined the views and experiences of young people of minority belief with respect to opt-out policies and provision in schools and explored the extent to which they believe that their right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is thereby protected. The research addressed the following questions:

1. What factors influence a young person’s decision to opt out (or not) of religious education?

2. In what ways do they believe opting out respects and protects their right to thought, conscience and religion?

3. How do young people from minority belief backgrounds experience opt-out provision from religious education and other religious occasions in schools?

4. Do conflicts arise between parents and young people regarding opt out of religious education?

5. How are opt-outs viewed by minority belief parents and communities?

Copies of the research report will be available at the seminar.

If you would like to attend the seminar or have any enquiries, please contact: Deaglan Coyle d.coyle@qub.ac.uk or Yuko Chiba y.chiba@qub.ac.uk