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UK Public Oppose Faith Schools 8-1
A poll for 'The Observer' newspaper has shown that the current proposals by the British government, and supported by the opposition Conservative party, for an extension of single faith schools to include "religions such as Islam and Judaism", are opposed by 80% of the population. Only 11% backed the move.
The poll had 5,979 online respondents in the nine days to 12 November and was weighted to reflect UK demography.
The Department of Education and Skills has told the Humanists web site that it has not done its own research into whether parents want more ‘faith’ schools, although it is often asserted that they do. The government minister responsible, Estelle Morris, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, is one who claims that they do. She has also indicated in an interview on BBC television that she has no intention of removing the religious barriers to the entry on equal terms of all local pupils to our publicly funded schools.
In a Mori poll of 2,000 adults for the ‘Times Educational Supplement’ it was found that 43% did not want more state-funded faith schools and only 25% did. Those opposing existing faith schools were 27%. There was overwhelming support of 80% saying that faith schools should be forced to admit pupils of other faiths. Only one in five thought they should be allowed to restrict entry to members of the same religion.
Roy Saich
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