A RECENT Insight article ('Say aaah... men'; ST, Oct 15) discussed the issue of proselytising.

Any form of proselytising to students is strictly not allowed in our schools, including both government and mission schools. Schools will take action against any teacher found to have engaged in proselytising.

The article cited the case of a National Junior College physics lecturer who invited his class to a Christmas party and prayed over them, and who attached Christian sayings to his lecture notes. The principal has warned the lecturer and counselled him. The lecturer is remorseful about his actions.

If parents have any concerns regarding any action involving their children being encouraged to join a religion other than their own, I encourage them to approach the school.

Ms Geraldine Chay Mei Fong ('Not true that all schools are secular'; ST, Oct 14) pointed out that religious values are imparted in mission schools. She supported this practice, and felt that parents who want a secular education for their children should send them to government schools.

Mission schools follow clear rules. While they can conduct prayers, religious classes and chapel services or mass, these must be optional. They cannot compel any student to participate in any religious activity against the student's wish.

Students are allowed to withdraw from any such activity if they are uncomfortable with participating in it, or if requested by their parents.

Further, attendance at any such activity cannot be a condition for students to be admitted to the school. The time used for these activities must also be in addition to that required for the schools to cover the subjects in the regular Ministry of Education curriculum.

It is in school that children of different backgrounds build bonds and develop shared aspirations as Singaporeans. We encourage parents and schools to work together to ensure that we sustain the strong social cohesion that we have built so far.

Wong Siew Hoong
Director of Schools
Ministry of Education

Wow. How stupid can people get? We're talking about Junior College students here, not kindergarden kids! Here's a suggestion - don't attend a Christmas Party if you are not Christian. And, move your butt elsewhere if you don't want to be prayed over. QED.

Religious equality in Singapore is a farce. Promoting purely atheistic thoughts in schools is NOT equality in my book. The Singapore idea of promoting peace between the different religions is by banning all religious arguments and as little contact as possible.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. 95% of the non-christians I've met are incapable of even formulating a simple argument as to why they don't believe, or why they believe in what they believe. All they have to offer is "My parents were Buddists, hence so am I!". Heck, they don't even understand their own religion, much less defend it. Atheists are even worse:

ARGUMENT FROM LACK OF BELIEF