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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Schools 'key to defusing tension' | Schools 'key to defusing tension' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Faith schools must do more to defuse community tensions, Education Secretary Alan Johnson has said. | |
| Speaking in Brighton, he said moves to encourage new faith schools to take up to 25% of pupils from other backgrounds were "only a start". | Speaking in Brighton, he said moves to encourage new faith schools to take up to 25% of pupils from other backgrounds were "only a start". |
| Mr Johnson wants to introduce an exchange scheme for teachers between different faith schools, and to twin non-faith schools with faith schools. | Mr Johnson wants to introduce an exchange scheme for teachers between different faith schools, and to twin non-faith schools with faith schools. |
| He said schools were in a "unique position to prevent social division". | He said schools were in a "unique position to prevent social division". |
| Mr Johnson addressed delegates at a conference of the National Children and Adult Services on Wednesday afternoon. | Mr Johnson addressed delegates at a conference of the National Children and Adult Services on Wednesday afternoon. |
| 'Crossing boundaries' | 'Crossing boundaries' |
| He spoke of the critical role of education in promoting respect and understanding. | He spoke of the critical role of education in promoting respect and understanding. |
| "Young minds are free from prejudice and discrimination so schools are in a unique position to prevent social division," he told delegates. | "Young minds are free from prejudice and discrimination so schools are in a unique position to prevent social division," he told delegates. |
| "Schools should cross ethnic and religious boundaries, and certainly not increase them, or exacerbate the difficulties in this sensitive area." | "Schools should cross ethnic and religious boundaries, and certainly not increase them, or exacerbate the difficulties in this sensitive area." |
| Earlier this year all the faiths agreed to teach about other religions in their schools. | Earlier this year all the faiths agreed to teach about other religions in their schools. |
| We should explore where there is more we can do by encouraging existing faith school to further promote community cohesion Alan Johnson Education secretary | We should explore where there is more we can do by encouraging existing faith school to further promote community cohesion Alan Johnson Education secretary |
| On Tuesday night, an amendment was tabled to the Education and Inspections Bill which will give local authorities power to make new state-funded faith schools in England offer 25% of places to children from different faiths or non-believers. | On Tuesday night, an amendment was tabled to the Education and Inspections Bill which will give local authorities power to make new state-funded faith schools in England offer 25% of places to children from different faiths or non-believers. |
| Where there is a lot of local opposition, parents and others will be able to appeal to the education secretary. | Where there is a lot of local opposition, parents and others will be able to appeal to the education secretary. |
| Best practice | Best practice |
| Asked if the legislation should have included existing as well as new faith schools, Mr Johnson told the BBC that it was only needed for new schools. | Asked if the legislation should have included existing as well as new faith schools, Mr Johnson told the BBC that it was only needed for new schools. |
| "It's important that the education system encourages the kind of integration we want to see in this country. | "It's important that the education system encourages the kind of integration we want to see in this country. |
| "But having said that, we can do that in relation to existing schools working with us, adopting best practice," he said. | "But having said that, we can do that in relation to existing schools working with us, adopting best practice," he said. |
| In his speech in Brighton, Mr Johnson said that the amendment was just the beginning. | In his speech in Brighton, Mr Johnson said that the amendment was just the beginning. |
| "Through the current consultation on the new admissions code, we should explore where there is more we can do by encouraging existing faith schools to further promote community cohesion, as I know they themselves are keen to do. | "Through the current consultation on the new admissions code, we should explore where there is more we can do by encouraging existing faith schools to further promote community cohesion, as I know they themselves are keen to do. |
| How can you be intimidated by the fact that in university you're going to come across non-Muslims? Farzina Alam | How can you be intimidated by the fact that in university you're going to come across non-Muslims? Farzina Alam |
| "I want to see teachers exchange between different religious schools, so that pupils and teachers are exposed to the ethos and approach of different faiths." | "I want to see teachers exchange between different religious schools, so that pupils and teachers are exposed to the ethos and approach of different faiths." |
| The idea of quotas for faith schools has met with opposition from Muslim, Jewish and Catholic groups. | The idea of quotas for faith schools has met with opposition from Muslim, Jewish and Catholic groups. |
| One Muslim woman, Farzina Alam, now 22, told the BBC's Today programme that her experience of an all-girls' Muslim faith school had been a negative one where most students were unsure how to act in front of boys. | One Muslim woman, Farzina Alam, now 22, told the BBC's Today programme that her experience of an all-girls' Muslim faith school had been a negative one where most students were unsure how to act in front of boys. |
| "They felt intimidated by the fact that...firstly they were going to attend university with boys, and university with non-Muslims which I found absolutely shocking. | "They felt intimidated by the fact that...firstly they were going to attend university with boys, and university with non-Muslims which I found absolutely shocking. |
| "You live in a country where most people are not Muslim. How can you be intimidated by the fact that in university you're going to come across non-Muslims?" | "You live in a country where most people are not Muslim. How can you be intimidated by the fact that in university you're going to come across non-Muslims?" |