Should the state fund schools run by religions?

Should the State Fund Schools Run by Religions?

Children are the foundation blocks of a society and the future citizens of the country. A well-rounded development is necessary for molding a child’s personality. Education plays an important role in nurturing the overall development of a child, and schools have the key responsibility in imparting such education. “Education for everyone” is also a principle defined in constitutions across the world. For children to grow into responsible citizens, learning should not have boundaries or any bias based on religion, sex, caste, or creed. Like any other institution, schools need ample funds to achieve their educational objectives. States support these objectives by allocating ample funds to provide free and adequate education to children, irrespective of their socio-economic demographics.

What Is a State-Funded School?

A state or a government fund is nothing but the tax that citizens pay on their earnings. Schools or educational institutions supported by such funds are called state-funded schools. In such schools, education is provided free of cost to increase the literacy rate in the society. Additional benefits in the form of scholarships and free stationery are also provided.

What Is a Religious or Faith-Based School?

Unlike community schools or non-religious schools, faith-based schools prefer to preach about a single religion, which might cultivate a constrained belief. Sometimes, such beliefs lead to isolation, which further results in extremist thoughts and actions. These schools may be on a mission to accomplish a religious motive, and teachers tend to deepen principles of a particular faith. Therefore, certain faith schools have been a contentious topic of discussion.

While some supporters feel that parents must have the choice to send their children to schools that follow their faith, others argue that faith-schools limit students’ sovereignty, impose a restricted mindset, and cultivate disruptive and divisive instincts.

On the contrary, some faith schools are equally qualified as community or private schools. They are renowned for providing high-quality education and for generating excellent academic results. They encourage mixing and interacting with schools of different faiths, thus endorsing an inclusive approach and social cohesion.

State Funding for Faith-Based Schools

In its objective to provide free and fair education to all, the government funds schools, irrespective of whether they are community, religious, or non-religious schools. Further, it is the responsibility of the schools to take this noble cause forward and utilize the funding most amicably so that it is the right use of the taxpayers’ money.

There are mixed views and concerns on how the state fund is used by schools, especially in faith-based schools. Some faith-based schools are extremely responsible and spend the funds provided by the state for improving their teaching staff, educational infrastructure, or other facilities; they leave no stone unturned.

However, some religious schools turn out to be the black sheep in the group. People who object to such schools believe that these schools misuse state funds and drive personal objectives. It is alleged that these schools are divisive and discriminatory and teach subjects about a particular faith instead of a general curriculum. Such restrained thinking is not a healthy sign to sustain in a multicultural society. Some argue that schools should not be the center of indoctrination, but an arena for gaining wisdom.

A possible way to avert such allegations is by following a syllabus provided by the government in teaching all subjects so that students are not cocooned in a biased mindset.

Conclusion

Schools play a major role in shaping a child’s individuality. To support this cause, states fund schools, be it religious or non-religious, so that quality education is an affordable commodity for everyone. While some religious schools take full advantage of this facility, some tend to breach the rules and inculcate fanatical values in students. Such schools need to refrain from doing so and promote an open culture. This encourages students to explore the world from a perspective that gives room for unbiased thinking. Such an open-minded approach prevents a child from falling prey to false beliefs and influences and helps children cultivate opinions that respect unity in diversity!

FAQs

How does the state get funds to give to schools and educational institutions?
The money taxpayers pay for their earnings is directed towards funds for schools and educational institutions.
What is a well-rounded education?
Balanced schooling that equally focuses on all facets of life, be it academics, social responsibility, or national interest, can be called a well-rounded education.
What is the risk of driving a single narrative to students in faith-based schools?
The risk lies in students tending to develop restricted mindsets, often leading to extremism.
Why do states fund schools?
States fund schools to provide free education and to increase the literacy rate in society.
How can faith-based schools put the state funds to proper use?
Faith-based schools must judiciously use the funds to facilitate a conducive schooling environment.