In the name of objectivity and pluralism, religious education must introduce the beliefs of Islam and other religions as well, the Court says.

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the Christian-focused model of religious education (RE) in Northern Ireland’s schools is unlawful, concluding that the current system fails to meet the requirement that teaching be “objective, critical and pluralistic.” The judgment follows a legal challenge brought by an unnamed father and his daughter, who attended a state-controlled primary school in Belfast. The girl had received Christian religious education and participated in Christian worship, but her non-religious parents objected to her being taught about Christian faith, despite having an option to withdraw their child at any time from RE.

According to the ruling, RE in Northern Ireland “amounts to pursuing the aim of indoctrination.” The court stressed that the decision does not abolish RE but instead forces schools to “widen” the range of faiths introduced to students. In effect, this means that, along with teaching about Christianity, primary school students should also hear about Judaism and Islam as part of their religious education. The court also ordered RE teachers and guest speakers from other religious backgrounds to be invited as well.

Stormont’s education committee chair, Nick Mathison, urged Education Minister Paul Givan to issue guidance. He argued that the issue is not about “pitting faith against secularism,” but about “ensuring schools are inclusive spaces that recognise and respect all value systems—both religious and non-religious.”

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