Church defends education role

Wednesday January 15 2014

The Church of Scotland has said it welcomes the opportunity to defend the role of religious representatives on local authority education committees.

The Scottish Parliament's Public Petition Committee yesterday decided to take forward a petition by the Edinburgh Secular Society which calls for the removal of such representation. The committee will now seek responses from religious, secular and political organisations on the proposal.

The Rev Sandy Fraser, Convenor of the Church of Scotland Education Committee, said: “The Church of Scotland believes that the decision of the petitions committee to ask for a review of the role of church appointed representatives to local authority education committees creates an opportunity for new light to be shed on the positive contribution its representatives make, both to education and to the democratic process.

“We believe that the review will see the role affirmed and retained. Our representatives on education authorities support the development of education in all its aspects.

“Their role enhances democratic decision-making by providing a wider understanding of community experiences and opinions and their commitment is greatly valued by officers and councillors alike.

“Their contributions are valued as an independent, non-partisan voice without being aligned in any way to a particular view or position.

“The Church of Scotland remains devoted to serving everyone in our communities in a way which reflects our longstanding commitment to education in Scotland.”

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