Education Act

Education Act 1990

SECULAR INSTRUCTION

30.          In government schools, the education is to consist of strictly non-sectarian and secular instruction. The words 'secular instruction' are to be taken to include general religious education as distinct from dogmatic or polemic theology.

SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

32. (1)   In every government school, time is to be allowed for the religious education of children of any religious persuasion, but the total number of hours so allowed in a year is not to exceed, for each child, the number of school weeks in the year.

      (2)    The religious education to be given to children of any religious persuasion is to be given by a member of the clergy or other religious teacher of that persuasion authorised by the religious body to which the member of clergy or other religious teacher belongs.

      (3)    The religious education to be given is in every case to be the religious education authorised by the religious body to which the member of the clergy or other religious teacher belongs.

       (4)   The times at which religious education is to be given to children of a particular religious persuasion are to be fixed by agreement between the principal of the school and the local member of the clergy or other religious teacher of that persuasion.

     (5)     Children attending a religious education class are to be separated from other children at the school while the class is held.

     (6)     If the relevant member of the clergy or religious teacher fails to attend the school at the appointed time, the children are to be appropriately cared for at the school during the period set aside for religious education.

OBJECTION TO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

33.          No child at a government school is to be required to receive any general religious education or special religious education if the parent of the child objects to the child's receiving that education.

33A        Special education in ethics as secular alternative to special religious education

     (1)     Special education in ethics is allowed as a secular alternative to special religious education at government schools.

     (2)     If the parent of a child objects to the child receiving special religious education, the child is entitled to receive special education in ethics, but only if:

                                (a) it is reasonably practicable for special education in ethics to be made available to the child at 

                 the government school, and

                                (b) the parent requests that the child receive special education in ethics.

     (3)     A government school cannot be directed (by the Minister or otherwise) not to make special education in ethics available at the school.