Moving religion into a new era

SLINDILE MALULEKA

SCHOOLS should encourage different religious practices to create religious tolerance among pupils.

Loshni Govindsamy of Verulam, a part-time PhD student at the Durban University of Technology, makes this assertion in her thesis.

She also made a presentation on the subject in Greece during a recent education conference.

In her study, Govindsamy found that at assembly, schools recited a common prayer which she says is Christian-based. She argued that public schools now had pupils from different religious denominations but that some were still practising what had been instilled in the apartheid era.

“Other religious groups have not been incorporated into the assembly prayers. Schools are still practising prayers (post-1994) that were adopted during the colonial era.

“After democracy, the demographics at schools changed. I respect the Christian religion, but why are other religious denominations not respected?” Govindsamy asked.

An extract from her research reads: “Even after political liberation in South Africa, a mismatch exists between the principles of freedom of religious observance taught in religion education and the actual religious observances in public schools.

“Anglican hymns, prayers and observances are still being used in schools where the religious ethos has changed from one of Christianity to include Hinduism and Islam, as well as Shembe and Zionist religions.”

South Africa’s constitution entrenches religious tolerance, but how to accommodate all beliefs at schools remains a difficult objective.

Terence Khala of the Department of Basic Education said schools were not religious institutions.

“We live in a secular country that guarantees the rights of all religions. Schools must accommodate diverse religious practices and beliefs in a tolerant, compassionate and equitable manner. All religions are taught in Life Orientation as part of the curriculum.”

The South African schools Act says religious observance may be conducted at a public school under rules issued by the governing body if such observances are conducted on an equitable basis and attendance of them by learners and members of staff is free and voluntary.

National Religious Leaders Forum secretary-general Ashwin Trikamjee said the issue of multi-religions had been raised in the past by other religious associations. He said single religions should not be “over-emphasised” when there were different religions in a school because this could lead to religious intolerance.

“Other religions, no matter how small they are, should be accommodated during prayer,” Trikamjee said.

Sayed Rajack, KwaZulu-Natal Parents’ Association chairman, said it was the responsibility of school management and governing bodies to ensure that all religions were acknowledged in schools.