Ofsted to become a national regulator of religion?

Written by David Fletcher 12 Feb 2016
Ofsted to become a national regulator of religion?

Christians in the UK are concerned that a Government proposal to curb Islamic extremism will affect religious liberty for churches. Prime Minister David Cameron announced a five-year plan last year to weed out growing Islamic extremism among Muslim youth. However, many fear the unclear language in the plan may allow the government to target Christian Sunday schools and youth groups. The proposal comes two years after the British government investigated reports that radical Muslims plotted to overtake and radicalise the Birmingham public school system. The government responded to the threat by mandating that the education curriculum must incorporate the British values of ‘democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.’ According to an article in Christianity Today, the Evangelical Alliance called the plan to monitor education of religious youth a ‘fundamental threat to religious liberty.’ The proposal requires all religious groups and institutions to register their children’s activities and allow government officials to visit for inspection if they meet for six hours or more a week.

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