MSPs call for students’ right to withdrawal from prayers

Two more members of the Scottish Parliament have called for schoolchildren in Scotland to have an independent right to withdrawal from religious observance.

Last month, Scottish National Party MSP Emma Roddick urged the Scottish Government to introduce an independent right to withdrawal for children. Now Labour and Green MSPs Carol Mochan (pictured) and Patrick Harvie joined her call.

State funded schools in Scotland are legally required to hold "community acts" which promote "the spiritual development of all members of the school's community", known as religious observance (RO). Non-denominational schools are "encouraged to draw upon" Christian traditions in RO.

While the law allows parents to withdraw their children from RO, there is no independent right of withdrawal for children, even when they are over 16.

'Critically important' that young people's choices respected in school

Speaking in Holyrood last week, Harvie said: "If we believe in the principle of religious freedom, surely it is clear that any pupil who is mature enough to decide that they are not a believer should not be required to go through a pretence of religious observance".

Last year, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was incorporated into Scots Law, creating a public sector duty to act compatibly with the convention. Article 14 of the convention enshrines a child's independent right to freedom of religion or belief.

The committee which oversees the convention has repeatedly recommended laws mandating collective worship be repealed and an independent right of withdrawal be introduced.

Mochan noted Scottish Government proposals on RO – which would only require "due weight" to be given to the child's view - "diverge from the recommendation" of the committee.

She asked Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills: "Is it her [your] view that we should conform to the UN committee's recommendations?" Gilruth declined to answer.

In January, the National Secular Society criticised the Scottish Government's proposals as "entirely misguided" and "unworkable". The NSS recommended laws mandating RO be abolished and, in the meantime, and independent right to withdrawal be introduced.

Mochan also cited 2022 Scottish census results which show 60% of schoolchildren are non-religious, and said: "In an increasingly secular and religiously diverse country, it is critically important that young people of all faiths and none have their beliefs and choices respected in school".

NSS: 'Encouraging to see more MSPs standing up for children's rights'

National Secular Society human rights lead Alejandro Sanchez said: "It's hugely encouraging to see even more MSPs standing up for children's right to freedom of religion or belief.

"The United Kingdom is the only Western democracy which legally imposes worship in publicly funded schools. In line with the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, it's time for archaic laws which mandate worship to be abolished.

"In the meantime, MSPs are absolutely right that an independent right to withdrawal must be introduced."