Section 32 of the Education Act 1990 requires that ‘in every government school, time is to be allowed for the religious education of children of any religious persuasion’. The procedures for special religious education in public schools consider:
- recommendations 36-72 of the report, Religion in Education in NSW Government Schools (1980), which were adopted by the government of the day as the basis of an agreement with the churches about the implementation of special religious education
- Education Act 1990 Section 33A, an amendment approved in 2010 to allow the option of special education in ethics for parents/caregivers who do not wish their children to attend special religious education
- the recommendations of the Final Report from the Inquiry into Education Amendment (Ethics Classes Repeal) Bill 2011 that were published in June 2012.
The provision of special religious education is not government funded.
A special religious education program is available at the school and is run by authorised volunteers of approved religious persuasions.
To opt out from participating in any of the above mentioned activities, a student must return the withdrawal form to Mr Abbou before the commencement of Special Religious Education.