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Media Release

21 January, 2004


WCED, MJC comment on Friday prayers

Joint Statement by the Western Cape Education Department and the Muslim Judicial Council

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) have agreed that there is nothing in any WCED regulation which infringes on the right of Muslim learners and educators to attend the Friday midday Jumuah service at mosque.

Concerns were raised about this late last year when a Peninsula school principal notified his learners’ parents that the WCED’s circular no. 212/2003 made no provision for learners to attend mosque on Fridays, and that he could therefore no longer allow learners to do so.

During a constructive and fruitful meeting between the WCED and the MJC last month the following points, among others, were established:

  • The WCED, as an arm of the state, may not and does not discriminate against any religion.
  • The WCED has therefore never placed any impediment in the way of learners wishing to attend Friday’s Jumuah service.
  • Circular 212/2003 makes no changes to existing arrangements for learners, which have for years catered fully for learners’ religious practices. The circular is entirely about educators’ duties, and makes clear provision for Muslim educators to practise their religion while fulfilling their professional duties.
  • Attending whatever mosque is nearest to the school is acceptable Islamic practice.
  • Jumuah should if at all possible be attended at a mosque. If the distance from a school to the nearest mosque raises problems of time and safety, Jumuah prayers may be held at school, but this should be a last resort only.
  • As a general rule, Jumuah prayers in the Western Cape start at 12:45 and end at 13:45.
  • It is normal Islamic practice that Muslims return to work after Jumuah prayers. Holding family gatherings after these prayers is a custom only, and is not required by Islamic dictate.

The WCED has agreed to communicate with its schools to clarify the questions of contact time with learners and the religious rights of learners and educators. It will also devise guidelines for schools on adapting timetables to accommodate religious observance (including Jumuah), and will follow up the matter of the letter to parents which caused the recent misunderstandings.

The MJC has agreed to communicate with Muslims to clarify the relevant aspects of religious observance, family responsibility, and the rights and responsibilities of Muslim educators and learners.

The WCED and MJC call upon all concerned to work together in good faith to ensure that our young people continue to enjoy their full constitutional rights in both the education they receive and the religion they practise.



Issued by:
Paddy Attwell
Director: Communication
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 021 467 2531
Fax: 021 461 3694
Email: pattwell@pgwc.gov.za

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