Statement by André Gaum, Western Cape Education Minister

I welcome the decision of Council of Education Ministers that the latest version of the policy document on religion in schools of the National Department of Education must be published for comment from the public for a month.

It is high time that the public gets the opportunity to have their say.

Although the time allowed for comment is limited, I call on all South Africans to make use of this time for comment. This may be one of the most important and decisive public consultation sessions ever!

Comments can be faxed to the National Ministry of Education at (021) 461 4788 or can be mailed to that Ministry at 120 Plein Street, Cape Town, 8000.

Although the document that will be published for comment make allowances with regard to religious observances during school hours and differ a lot from the original draft in terms of which I challenged the National Department the past few months, I still cannot accept the document.

Two sections that I cannot live with is sections 87 and 88 that reads as follows:

"87. In accordance with the Constitution (15[2]) and the South African Schools Act (section 7), the School Governing Bodies of public schools may make their facilities available for religious observances, such as worship, prayer, religious singing and devotional scripture reading. However, such religious observances can only be permitted if they are free and voluntary associations outside of the formal activities of the school. In allowing space for free and voluntary religious association, the school must ensure that any of its facilities that are used for such purposes are made available on an equitable basis to all who apply. Religious observances, however, shall not be conducted as part of the formal teaching or official activities of the school. Although religious observances may be allowed on a free and equal basis on the school property, they are not structurally part of the official business of the public school.

88. Recognising that weekly assembly is a longstanding tradition in many of our schools, we nevertheless find that assembly shall not be compulsory for public schools. Although the assembly shall not be compulsory for public schools, it may form an integral part of school activity. Where an assembly is organised It is not necessarily is to be seen as an occasion for religious expression. However, if such an expression does take place, it should acknowledge and reflect the multi-religious nature of South African society in an appropriate manner. School governing bodies would be required to determine the nature and content of school assemblies such that coherence and alignment with this policy is ensured."

Read together these sections allow for very little religious observances, namely that during assemblies the multi-religious nature of South African society must be reflected. The assemblies must also be in harmony with the broader religion policy that actually promotes "neutral religion". It seems as if it must also multi-religious, in which case a question is posed with regard to religious observances.

All South-Africans must object to these issues with me.