Use our pull-down menus to find more stories
  


OR subscribers use AllAfrica's premium search engine


Click here to read or make comments on this topic »

Uganda: Legislators Disagree On Religious Studies


New Vision (Kampala)
 

Email This Page

Print This Page

Comment on this article

View comments

New Vision (Kampala)

13 May 2008
Posted to the web 14 May 2008

Cyprian Musoke and John Odyek
Kampala

TO teach or not to teach religious education as a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools was at the centre of debate yesterday as MPs considered the Education Bill 2007.

While some argued that it was necessary for the student's holistic growth, others contended that it would unnecessarily burden students with another compulsory subject.

The latter argued that religious studies should at most be compulsory up to primary level and remain optional in secondary school.

Presenting the social services committee report, committee chairman James Kubeketerya supported the clause in the Bill that read: "Religious studies approved by the Government shall be compulsorily taught in primary and post-primary schools for purposes of producing disciplined, responsible and morally conscience citizens."

This sparked off another argument regarding the criteria the Government would use in approving religions to be taught in schools.

"You talk about religions approved by the Government yet the Constitution says there shall be freedom of worship, how are you going to approve some and leave others? Won't that contradict the Constitution?" asked opposition chief whip Kassiano Wadri.

Education minister Namirembe Bitamazire and Kubeketerya explained that after consulting the Uganda Joint Christian Council and the Uganda Muslim Education Association, they had agreed that Islam and Christian Religious Education be maintained as the basic.

Bitamazire argued that the studies should also be examinable. However, Wadri argued that: "Why don't we leave it open. If we leave the Government to choose, all religions will want to be on the syllabus."

John Odit (Erute South) said leaving the provision open would attract sects, that have fundamentalist tendencies. "We should have some set standards."

Relevant Links

The House resolved to defer the matter to today, to allow MPs make further consultations. They also failed to agree on whether to criminalise parents who refuse to provide food for their school-going children.


Read comments. Write your own.
Author: Think about it

The andwer to this seems obvious.


AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

 
Share this on:
Facebook
Digg
Del.icio.us
StumbleUpon
Muti


Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed

Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe

Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement.

HOME
allAfrica.com


Relevant Links




New Peacekeepers Fly Into Mogadishu
Obama Gaining Ground in Tribal America
More Than Six Million Need Food Aid
Religious Sect Stores Dead Bodies
Ugandan Rebels Committing Grave Rights Abuses





Today's Most Active Stories