Don’t force students to participate in worship — National Peace Council
The National Peace Council (NPC) has recommended that in view of the provisions of the 1992 Constitution on human rights, no public school should require students of different religious persuasions to participate in acts of worship, devotion or fellowship without their consent or the consent of their parents in case the students are minors.
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It, however, explained that the recommendation “is without prejudice to the general assembly which precedes daily school activity”.
The council also called for a review of the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to broaden the choices and selection of schools available to BECE candidates.
Implementation
It called for reasonable space, allowance or facilities to be provided for students to congregate for the purpose of prayer or act of worship at times and places which did not conflict with teaching and learning.
“That, however, does not create an obligation to build a special place of worship,” the NPC said.
The NPC made the recommendations after it had held a two-day stakeholders’ forum on religious tolerance and freedom in Accra.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting said in the case of government-assisted mission schools and private schools, there was the need for dialogue and time for the implementation of Article 21(1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution, which says: "All persons shall have the right to freedom to practise any religion and to manifest such practice."
The two-day stakeholders’ forum was held to find an amicable solution to claims and counterclaims relating to religious intolerance and alleged violations of constitutional rights, including freedom to practise any religion and manifest such practice in schools and at workplaces.
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On Friday, February 20, 2015, Muslims in the Western Region took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration to protest what they said was manifest discrimination against them on the basis of religion in the various schools.
The aggrieved protestors claimed Muslim girls had been prevented from wearing their hijab, veils that cover the heads and chests of women beyond the age of puberty in the presence of adult males outside of their family and, according to some interpretations, in the presence of adult non-Muslim females outside of their immediate family.
Tie back
Some Muslim students also alleged that they were forced by heads of institutions, especially second-cycle institutions, to attend Christian church services and programmes, much against their will and religion.
The government, reacting to those allegations, condemned what it described as religious intolerance perpetrated against Muslim girls in various educational institutions in the country, saying it agreed with the concerns of the aggrieved Muslims.
In a statement issued in the wake of the Muslim protestation, the Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, said: "We consider it not only as religious intolerance but also a breach of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana for Muslim students to be forced to take off their hijabs in schools.”
He said it was unacceptable for Muslim students to be forced to attend church services in schools, especially when they sought to introduce those students to a religion which they might not subscribe to nor be adherents of.
In its efforts to resolve the problem, the NPC held the two-day stakeholders’ forum to look at the way forward.
In the 10-point communique issued at the end of the meeting, the NPC said to help address the issue further, there was the need for schools or institutions to create an environment where students felt welcome without any fear of discrimination or victimisation on religious grounds.
It said in order to provide a platform for continued dialogue, the NPC called for an independent inter-religious body to be set up to work closely with the council.
Call on GES
It further called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to provide a policy framework for the creation of an acceptable dress code and the use of religious symbols in schools, taking into consideration the legitimate concerns of interested religious groups.
It also called on the service to oversee the formation of inter-religious chaplaincy boards in schools to create the platform for the exercise of freedom of religion and worship.