The right to choose a school cannot override constitutionally guaranteed rights, Africa Education Watch Executive Director Kofi Asare has said.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, Mr Asare stressed that religious freedom in schools must be respected and protected.
He explained that even though most senior high schools have allowed Muslim students to pray for decades, recent discussions create the impression that such freedoms are under threat.
“The issue is the enjoyment of religious rights in mission schools and not mostly girls,” he said, adding that religious rights are fundamental and enshrined in both the Constitution and international frameworks.
Mr Asare highlighted two major principles that govern religious rights. The first is non-discrimination, which ensures that no person is treated differently because of their religion.
“Article 17 of our Constitution is clear that discrimination on grounds of religion is prohibited, and it guarantees religious freedom,” he said.
The second principle is non-compulsion. He explained that asking someone to practice a religion or stop practising their faith, even within a school setting, breaches this principle.
Responding to the argument that parents voluntarily choose schools and thus agree to abide by their religious rules, Mr Asare said, “The power of choice cannot override constitutionally guaranteed rights.
The principle of non-compulsion simply says that no one should be forced to practice another religion or stop practising their religion. Whether you are doing it because you think you have the right to choose or not is another matter.”
He warned that any attempt to compel students to act against their faith in schools is a violation of fundamental rights.
“What we are discussing is the possibility of discriminating against some people because they will be treated differently simply because they are in a particular school,” he said.
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