Fact Sheet - Principle of Secular Education

Has the Government maintained the principle of ‘secular education’ in the Education and Training Reform Act 2006?

One of three ‘cardinal points’ of the 1872 Education Act was to ensure the secular nature of government schools. The 1872 Education Act did not define secular, presumably on the basis that the community had an agreed understanding of what secular meant.

Today, secular may mean different things to different people. It is for this reason that the new Act, while reaffirming the principle of secular education, defines it in modern democratic language.

The legislation clearly states that the government school system is secular, and open to the adherents of any philosophy, religion, or faith. It specifies the curriculum and teaching in government schools will ‘not promote any particular religious practice, denomination or sect’.

How then, does religion fit within the Education and Training Reform Act 2006?

There are two ways.

While the new Act makes it clear that government school education must be secular it provides schools with the option to offer ‘special religious instruction’ in the school through ‘instruction provided by churches and other religious groups and based on distinctive religious tenets and beliefs’. This instruction is not compulsory and parents may request that their child does not attend such classes.

The Act also does not prevent the inclusion of ‘general religious education’ in government school curriculum. This means that education provided by a teacher ‘about the major forms of religious thought and expression characteristic of Australian society and other societies in the world’ is acceptable.

Has the process for providing voluntary religious instruction in government schools changed under the new Act?

No. It has been the case since the early 1870s that religious groups may enter government schools to teach children about their particular faith under strict regulatory conditions. 

The current practice for such religious instruction - which allows any parent to excuse their child from attending - has been in place since 1950. These arrangements have received general community acceptance throughout this time and remain unchanged in the new legislation. 

How can I get more information?

To find out more about the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, see Review of Education and Training Legislation.