- What is this policy about?
- This policy supports ACT public schools in delivering religious education in accordance with the Education Act, Section 29.
- Policy Statement
- Parents of children at an ACT public school may request their child receive religious education in a particular religion as provided for by the Education Act, Section 29.
- The principal coordinates the teaching of religious education in public schools in cooperation with specific religious bodies and parents and is responsible for compliance with the Religious Education in ACT Public School procedures.
- Religious education must be approved by the authorised religious body to which the person providing the instruction belongs.
- Persons must be approved by the authorised religious bodies to provide the religious education program and must hold a current registration under the Working With Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011and must comply with the Directorate’s Working with Children and Young People (Volunteers and Visitors) Interim Policy.
- Parental consent must be obtained for children to participate in religious education classes.
- Schools will provide classes from the regular, approved school curriculum for children not attending the religious education program.
- Who does this policy apply to?
- This policy applies to all ACT public schools.
- Context
- Where parents of children at a public school ask the principal for their children to receive religious education in a particular religion, the principal must ensure that reasonable time is allowed for their children’s religious education in that religion.
- Responsibilities
- The school principal: is responsible for implementing this policy and associated procedures.
- Policy Owner: The Director, Learning and Teaching is responsible for this policy.
- Monitoring and Review
- The Policy Owner monitors the policy. This includes an annual scan of operation and review. A full review of the policy will be conducted within a three year period.
- Contact
- For support contact Learning and Teaching Branch on (02) 6205 9205.
- Complaints
- Any concerns about the application of this procedure or the procedure itself, should be raised with:
- the school principal in the first instance;
- the Directorate’s Liaison Unit on (02) 6205 5429.
- online at https://www.education.act.gov.au/about-us/contact_us.
- see also the Complaints Policy on the Directorate’s website.
- Any concerns about the application of this procedure or the procedure itself, should be raised with:
- References
- Definitions
- Parent: is a person having parental responsibility for the child under the Children and Young People Act 2008 including a carer appointed under that Act.
- A reasonable time: for the children’s religious education is deemed to be no more than forty minutes for one lesson or 7 hours per school term as negotiated with the principal.
- Religious body: is a term inclusive of groups of people holding similar religious beliefs. These groups must be endorsed as an income tax exempt charity by the Commissioner of Taxation and/or hold governing documents containing acceptable clauses showing the organisation’s non-profit character or be approved by the Director-General of the Education and Training Directorate to conduct religious education in ACT public schools.
- Religious education: is instruction in a particular religion as delivered by a representative of a religious body.
- Legislation
- The Education Act 2004 provides for the organisation and governance of ACT public schools.
- Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011.
- Implementation Documents
- Related Policies and Information
- Working with Children and Young People (Volunteers and Visitors) Interim Policy
- Definitions
Religious Education in ACT Public Schools Policy: RES200812 is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is the current and complete version of the document, available on the Directorate’s website at http://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/school_and_corporate_policies/A-Z.
Policy Identifier: RES200812
Published: January 2016
Implementation Documents:
Religious Education Factsheet ( 273.6 KB)
Religious Education in ACT Public School Procedure ( 67.1 KB)
Related Policies and Information:
- Working with Children and Young People (Volunteers and Visitors) Interim Policy