Religious tilt to moral education in schools opposed

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) expressed opposition to the BJP-led State government in seeking opinions of religious leaders in the shaping of moral education in schools. AIDSO secretary Ajay Kamath said that it was “condemnable” that the state government is planning to introduce moral education for school children and is all set to hold a workshop with the religious leaders to take their opinions and suggestions for framing the syllabus.

“Hands off religion! You have no right in formulating social laws! said great Vivekananda. The words he said in matter of social laws is applicable to the field of education too. Religion has no role in formulating educational laws. Netaji had given a call to keep religion away from education.

He said, ‘religion should not interfere in education. It should remain a mere personal belief.’ This is the real concept of secularism. But the state government, by going against these great men ideas, has set to hold a workshop involving religious leaders, is highly condemnable,” Kamath said.

“AIDSO urges that government must immediately take back it’s decision of religion based moral education. On the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the moral lesson of his life and that of such great revolutionaries is most relevant today. Also, moral lessons are needed from freedom fighters, Renaissance thinkers, and progressive Kannada writers.

AIDSO upholds that education should be democratic, scientific and secular and oppose any attempt to bring religion into education. Also we call upon all the students and common people in general to get united and fight against every such attempt by the government to bring religion in education and politics,” he added.