Existence of religious education

[Marc Stern]

An interesting story from Howard Friedman's excellent blog.


Finnish gov't withholds private school licenses

10.2.2006 at 10:58

Christian schools expressed their disappointed in the Finnish government's decision on school licenses on Thursday. In its Thursday session the government decided to deny licenses for new private schools, as well as to turn down applications for the expansion of the activities of existing schools.

"It is unfortunate that decisions affecting the future of the schools of hundreds of children are made on the basis of personal preferences in contradiction to the constitution, the law on freedom of religion and international human rights conventions," said Taneli Hassinen, chair of the board of the Centre for Christian Education, in a joint statement for the Christian schools.

Minister of Education Antti Kalliomäki (soc dem) said in a statement Thursday that it was not the function of schools to proclaim one single truth, religious or otherwise. "One school teaching according to the convictions of some and a second school teaching according to the convictions of others is not real pluralism." Mr Kalliomäki previously proposed also denying extensions to fixed-term licenses held by existing private schools.

Two Rudolf Steiner schools, in Kymenlaakso and Vihti, were left without a license. However, the licenses of two Christian schools, in Kerava and Kuopio, received a two-year extension.


/STT/

© Copyright STT 2006 

Marc Stern