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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Plan for school assembly opt-out | Plan for school assembly opt-out |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Sixth form pupils in state schools in Wales are to be given the right to opt out of religious school assemblies. | Sixth form pupils in state schools in Wales are to be given the right to opt out of religious school assemblies. |
| At the moment they must provide daily collective worship for all children, apart from those withdrawn by their parents. | At the moment they must provide daily collective worship for all children, apart from those withdrawn by their parents. |
| Similar rules in England were relaxed for pupils aged 16 and over in 2007. | Similar rules in England were relaxed for pupils aged 16 and over in 2007. |
| But the Welsh Assembly Government's decision has been condemned by the Union of Welsh Independent Chapels as a "betrayal of Welsh culture". | But the Welsh Assembly Government's decision has been condemned by the Union of Welsh Independent Chapels as a "betrayal of Welsh culture". |
| Under current legislation, maintained schools in England and Wales "must provide a daily act of collective worship which is broadly Christian". | Under current legislation, maintained schools in England and Wales "must provide a daily act of collective worship which is broadly Christian". |
| The routine was brought in under the Education Act of 1944. | The routine was brought in under the Education Act of 1944. |
| I have always thought that any form of compulsory worship was counter productive Father John Owen, Catholic Church in England and Wales | I have always thought that any form of compulsory worship was counter productive Father John Owen, Catholic Church in England and Wales |
| However, the decision to amend the act has been criticised by the Union of Welsh Independent Chapels. | However, the decision to amend the act has been criticised by the Union of Welsh Independent Chapels. |
| It said the assembly government was throwing "1,500 years of Welsh Christianity to the wind - at the very time when young people need a sound moral and spiritual dimension in their lives more than ever". | It said the assembly government was throwing "1,500 years of Welsh Christianity to the wind - at the very time when young people need a sound moral and spiritual dimension in their lives more than ever". |
| "Over the centuries, Christianity has been the bedrock of Welsh identity and morality," said Dr Geraint Tudur, the union's general secretary. | "Over the centuries, Christianity has been the bedrock of Welsh identity and morality," said Dr Geraint Tudur, the union's general secretary. |
| "This is a secular attack on that Christianity - an act of betrayal by the assembly government. We urge assembly Education Minister Jane Hutt to reconsider." | "This is a secular attack on that Christianity - an act of betrayal by the assembly government. We urge assembly Education Minister Jane Hutt to reconsider." |
| The Catholic Church in England and Wales has welcomed the decision. | The Catholic Church in England and Wales has welcomed the decision. |
| Father John Owen, a spokesman for the church and chaplain of Cardiff University, said: "I have always thought that any form of compulsory worship was counter productive. | Father John Owen, a spokesman for the church and chaplain of Cardiff University, said: "I have always thought that any form of compulsory worship was counter productive. |
| "I think it's a personal decision and personally I have no problem with this." | "I think it's a personal decision and personally I have no problem with this." |
| A spokeswoman for the assembly government said at the moment parents could only excuse children from collective worship. | |
| She added: "The Education and Inspection Act 2006 allowed sixth formers in maintained mainstream schools the right to withdraw themselves from collective worship. | She added: "The Education and Inspection Act 2006 allowed sixth formers in maintained mainstream schools the right to withdraw themselves from collective worship. |
| "Currently it is only the parent of a child who can make such a request. This change came into force in England in 2007. | "Currently it is only the parent of a child who can make such a request. This change came into force in England in 2007. |
| "Once the amendment is in force, a parent will continue to be able to request that a child other than a sixth former be excused from collective worship. | "Once the amendment is in force, a parent will continue to be able to request that a child other than a sixth former be excused from collective worship. |
| "A parent of any child at a school will be able to request that the child be excused from receiving religious education." | "A parent of any child at a school will be able to request that the child be excused from receiving religious education." |
| It is not clear when the decision will come into force. | It is not clear when the decision will come into force. |