andMr. Shatter asked the Minister for Education according to the regulations included in or annexed to the deeds of trust for community schools, the rights of (a) schoolchildren and (b) their parents to have the former withdrawn from religious instruction classes and acts of worship in these schools; and if she has satisfied herself that, in the absence of published deeds of trust, school children and parents are aware of these rights.
Written Answers. - Religious Instruction in Community Schools.
159.
The relevant sections relating to the withdrawal of pupils from religious instruction contained in the Articles of Management attached to the Model Deed of Trust for Community Schools are as follows:
Section 11. (i) In exercising its general control over the curriculum and conduct of the School the Board shall ensure that there is religious worship and religious instruction for the pupils in the School except for such pupils whose parents make a request in writing to the Principal that those pupils should be withdrawn from religious worship or religious instruction or both religious worship and religious instruction.
(ii) The religious worship attended by any pupil at the School and the religious instruction given to any pupil shall be in accordance with the rites, practice and teaching of the religious denomination to which the pupil belongs. Religious instruction as aforesaid of the order of 2 hours shall be given to all the pupils in the school (except those who are withdrawn from religious instruction in accordance with the provisions of sub-clause (i) of this clause) in each week during which the school is in session.
I am satisfied that parents are generally aware of these rights and that when the need arises a parent may obtain details of the operation of the provisions in question from the principal or the board of management of the community school.