Religious Instruction In Australian Schools Is Being Questioned

In Australia, the federal government allocates $222 million for school chaplaincy programs. However, according to a report this week in The Australian, the program has become controversial because 98.5% of the chaplains funded by the program are Christian, while only 64% of Australians identify as Christians. Also, the chaplains who teach in the program are volunteers and do not have to be trained as teachers. Anna Halafoff from Monash University says: "The problem with special religious instruction - the current program - is that it's not education about religions but education into a particular religion." The religious education program in the state of Victoria is under particular scrutiny after the head of Access Ministries, the group that provides school chaplains in Victoria, was quoted as saying: "We need to go and make disciples."