Parents are horrified a Bible instructor has been approaching primary school pupils outside of class hours to evangelise, which they say violates their child's right to a secular education.

The parents of a 6-year-old girl said they were frustrated with a school in north Canterbury, which had made her feel excluded and anxious due to its handling of religious education.

They opted their daughter out of Bible studies at the school, but said she had been repeatedly exposed to religious instruction and was made to feel left out.

It follows a similar situation in Auckland, where parents are taking a school to court because it placed their daughter in Bible classes against their wishes.

READ MORE: Bible lessons lead to court

The girl's mother, who did not wish to be named because she feared further exclusion for her daughter, said frustrations boiled over when she saw the school's Christian Religious Education (CRE) volunteer approach her daughter and other young children before school.

It was understood he worked nearby and would come onto school grounds during break times to speak to children about religious matters.

The girl said he approached her and other children "often" and spoke to them about God, heaven and angels.

Her parents approached the school with their concerns. The principal told the CRE volunteer he could not talk to pupils about religion, but did not take the matter to the board of trustees.

The CRE volunteer in question declined to comment.

The school's principal said it was consulting with parents to see how it managed its religious education.

"We're consulting with our community this term to see what our community wants in terms of Christian education in school," he said.

"From that, the board of trustees will make a decision on how we want it run within the school."

He said the girl's exclusion was "not ideal".

"We do the best we can with what we have available... but it's one of the reasons why we're consulting with the community this term."

He declined to comment on the CRE volunteer's behaviour.

Today the Secular Education Network (SEN), a group devoted to repealing religious instruction in primary schools, is arguing its case against the Ministry of Education at a Human Rights Commission hearing in Auckland.

READ MORE: Human Rights Commission hears bible class concerns

Written and verbal statements from the girl's parents were being presented at the hearing.

They expressed frustration with the way the school handled their daughter's absence from Bible class.

They said she was initially made to sit alone in the corner of the room during the class, which had made her feel excluded.

"To just plonk her in the corner by herself… it's miserable. It's definitely not an easy road to opt out at this school," her mother said.

After allowing her to attend Bible study for a brief period, they were unhappy with the material being taught.

She received colouring-in pages telling pupils they were "made by God", which her parents said violated the code of expectations for CRE volunteers, which forbid evangelising.

As a result of her confusion about religion, their daughter had tearfully asked them questions about death, and had become frightened and anxious about existential questions.

Her parents believed they should have the right to raise their child in a secular environment.

"It certainly has affected how our family feels about the school and the school community," her mother said.

"Having to continue to assert ourselves to make sure she stays away from this does make you feel quite excluded."

She said it was unreasonable she had to keep pressuring a state school, which should be secular by default, to keep her daughter away from religious instruction.

"Our biggest issue is that our daughter is suffering distress and exclusion as a result of us trying to keep her away from something that shouldn't be there in the first place. It's backwards."

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