Court orders schools not to promote any one religion

The Johannesburg High Court has ruled that schools can't promote one religion.

JOHANNESBURG - The Johannesburg High Court has ruled that schools can't promote one religion.

The case was brought by an organisation arguing that there's religious bias in South African public schools. The case was brought by OGod, an organisation that argued that there’s religious bias in South African public schools.

BREAKING #SchoolsReligion Judge rules that schools can't promote one religion. GN — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 28, 2017

But trade union Solidarity, which represents the six schools the case was brought against, says that the Constitution allows public schools to identify with one religion and promote it.

The High Court has ruled that the adoption of a single religion at schools would disadvantage pupils.

OGod, the organisation that brought the matter to the court, and Education Minister Angie Motshekga have argued that focussing on just one religion is not permitted, while the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools and Solidarity say that it is permitted in terms of the constitutional, legal framework and existing case law.

Now schools cannot deny pupils the opportunity of practicing other religions.

Parents and school governing bodies can now determine what religion or religions children are taught at schools.