[Northern Ireland] Landmark law tackles religious discrimination against teachers

This week a historic change to Northern Ireland’s Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act officially came into force. It ended the long-standing exemption from general employment laws that allowed religious discrimination against all school teachers, Humanists UK reports.

The UK’s religious schools are allowed to discriminate against teachers on the grounds of religion, meaning those of no or members of the ‘wrong’ religion could be denied employment or promotion. 

Such discrimination had reportedly been justified in Northern Ireland because all schools were required to provide Christian religious instruction and daily acts of Christian worship. 

Humanists UK say this approach perpetuates community division and restricts educational opportunities and career prospects. Northern Ireland Humanists welcomed the new legislation as a hugely positive step forward that fosters a more inclusive and diverse educational environment.

A recent study revealed that just 2 per cent of teachers in Catholic-maintained primary schools are from a Protestant background while 7 per cent of those in state-controlled (considered de facto Protestant) primary schools are from a Catholic background.

For a long time, Northern Ireland Humanists have advocated for the removal of these exemptions as part of a broader effort to ensure that all aspects of schooling are free from religious discrimination

Boyd Sleator - Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator - said, “Today represents a monumental step towards true equality in our education system. Teachers are the backbone of education and must be selected based on capability and not religious affiliation. This change not only supports teachers but also benefits all students by promoting inclusion and diversity.”

The change to the Act means that Northern Ireland had moved ahead of the rest of the UK where - under education and equality laws - religious schools can still require all of their teachers to share the school’s faith. 

This is reportedly out of step with retained EU law that allows such discrimination only where a genuine occupational requirement (GOR) can be demonstrated. So a school that discriminates beyond GOR is breaking UK law, however, the difference between different laws means that it isn’t being enforced.

Lewis Young - Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager - said, “Amazingly, Northern Ireland has now leapfrogged Britain in how much religious discrimination is permitted against teachers. The governments of England, Scotland, and Wales should act to mirror Northern Ireland’s move.”

Source: Humanists UK

(Quotes via original reporting)

This week a historic change to Northern Ireland’s Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act officially came into force. It ended the long-standing exemption from general employment laws that allowed religious discrimination against all school teachers, Humanists UK reports.

The UK’s religious schools are allowed to discriminate against teachers on the grounds of religion, meaning those of no or members of the ‘wrong’ religion could be denied employment or promotion. 

Such discrimination had reportedly been justified in Northern Ireland because all schools were required to provide Christian religious instruction and daily acts of Christian worship. 

Humanists UK say this approach perpetuates community division and restricts educational opportunities and career prospects. Northern Ireland Humanists welcomed the new legislation as a hugely positive step forward that fosters a more inclusive and diverse educational environment.

A recent study revealed that just 2 per cent of teachers in Catholic-maintained primary schools are from a Protestant background while 7 per cent of those in state-controlled (considered de facto Protestant) primary schools are from a Catholic background.

For a long time, Northern Ireland Humanists have advocated for the removal of these exemptions as part of a broader effort to ensure that all aspects of schooling are free from religious discrimination

Boyd Sleator - Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator - said, “Today represents a monumental step towards true equality in our education system. Teachers are the backbone of education and must be selected based on capability and not religious affiliation. This change not only supports teachers but also benefits all students by promoting inclusion and diversity.”

The change to the Act means that Northern Ireland had moved ahead of the rest of the UK where - under education and equality laws - religious schools can still require all of their teachers to share the school’s faith. 

This is reportedly out of step with retained EU law that allows such discrimination only where a genuine occupational requirement (GOR) can be demonstrated. So a school that discriminates beyond GOR is breaking UK law, however, the difference between different laws means that it isn’t being enforced.

Lewis Young - Humanists UK Education Campaigns Manager - said, “Amazingly, Northern Ireland has now leapfrogged Britain in how much religious discrimination is permitted against teachers. The governments of England, Scotland, and Wales should act to mirror Northern Ireland’s move.”

Source: Humanists UK

(Quotes via original reporting)