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100 signatures reached
To: Education Minister, NI
We demand Inclusive Religious Education for all NI’s Children
The Supreme Court has confirmed children’s human rights are being breached by Religious Education in NI. We demand reform.
Why is this important?
All of our children deserve to feel valued, included and respected in their schools.
As parents and community members who care deeply about the education, well-being and safety of our young learners, we have seen how current RE provision in NI fails them. We see how children face discrimination, exclusion, and stigmatisation as a result of these failings and the burden placed on families to separate their children from their peers, or risk their indoctrination in a belief system that is not their own. Following the Supreme Court judgment in JR87 which confirmed infringement of our children human rights, we demand reform.
As parents and community members who care deeply about the education, well-being and safety of our young learners, we have seen how current RE provision in NI fails them. We see how children face discrimination, exclusion, and stigmatisation as a result of these failings and the burden placed on families to separate their children from their peers, or risk their indoctrination in a belief system that is not their own. Following the Supreme Court judgment in JR87 which confirmed infringement of our children human rights, we demand reform.
Every child, regardless of their religious or non-religious backgrounds, should have the right to an education that values and respects their individuality, personal beliefs, and background, and helps them develop the skills they need to understand, value and respect those from different walks of life.
We are calling upon Education Minister Paul Givan to urgently prioritise and ensure:
We are calling upon Education Minister Paul Givan to urgently prioritise and ensure:
- Delivery of an updated ECHR compliant RE curriculum designed by a pluralistic and interfaith panel of suitably qualified and experienced educators;
- Inspection of RE by the Education and Teaching Inspectorate in line with the rest of the curriculum; and
- An immediate pause on access to pupils by external organisations in order to deliver religious education or collective worship during core school hours until a new, rights-respecting curriculum is in place.
No child should face stigma at school. No child should be othered. No child should be excluded. All of our children deserve better.
Please sign this petition to urge the Minister for Education to prioritise children’s rights and ensure an inclusive religious education for all.