Opting Out of Religious Education in Northern Ireland: The views of young people from minority belief backgrounds
The School of Education and School of Law at Queen's University Belfast have published the findings of research into the experience of children of minority belief who opt-out from religious education in schools in Northern Ireland. The core aim of the research was 'to examine the opt-out clause through the perspective of young people (13-18 years) of minority belief and to assess its suitablility as a mechanism to protect religious liberty in a diverse society.' The findings show that many young people, parents, teachers and principals have little awareness of the legal situation in relation to opting-out from RE. Although, the report also notes that while the opt-out clause offered some protection for the rights of those who exercised it, it did not in itself guarantee respect for the beliefs of young people. Those who do opt-out are treated in a wide variety of ways, from being expected to stay in religious education classes to being removed to an unsupervised room. The r