THE Humanist Society of Scotland makes a compelling case to end the requirement for local councils to keep three spaces for religious representatives on education committees.

Even setting aside the eccentric beliefs of some members of these bodies such as Pastor David Fraser in Clackmannanshire, there is a need to change a law dating back more than 40 years ago that gives churches such a prominent role.

It is clearly anti-democratic that each religious representative has equal voting rights with the elected councillors to make vital decisions about how schools are run and pupils are taught.

That some 37 per cent of people in Scotland say they do not belong to any religion – a figure likely to have increased over the last five years – simply underlines the need to update the legislation. The membership of education committees should better reflect modern Scotland, and calls for reform are long overdue.

Call to scrap law forcing councils to have church representatives on education committees

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