Summary
A teacher in Northern Ireland used a 40-year-old law to stop teaching religious education and attending religious assemblies, citing personal beliefs. The teacher, Javed Love, is the first in a decade to use this legal option, which applies only to controlled schools. The law allows teachers to opt out of religious activities for reasons of conscience.
Key Facts
- Javed Love is a primary school teacher in Northern Ireland.
- He used a legal clause from the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 to withdraw from teaching religious education (RE).
- The law allows teachers to opt out of RE and religious assemblies on "grounds of conscience."
- Love believes teaching should involve multiple perspectives, not just one dominant worldview.
- The law is applicable only to controlled schools managed by boards and the Education Authority.
- Parents can also withdraw their children from RE and religious assemblies by law.
- The Supreme Court recently ruled that the RE in Northern Ireland is not taught in a "pluralistic" way and suggested it might be "indoctrination."
- The recent court decision did not directly affect Love's case but suggested changes to the RE curriculum might be needed.
