I am most concerned at the proposals contained within the Curriculum & Assessment (Wales) Bill proposed by the Education Minister Kirsty Williams and due voted in the Senedd

This bill, if passed, will have far-reaching effects including: A drastic reduction in school time for teaching on Christianity and other religions; Children to be predominantly taught atheism and Humanism; Compulsory sex education for children from age three; Parents right to remove their children from the above to be denied; Humanists to be empowered with the right of veto on Religious Education (RE).

Ms Williams proposals are completely out of kilter with the public consultations she herself held and has plainly ignored. In March 2019 only 22 per cent agreed with her proposed approach to RE with an overwhelming 62 per cent disagreeing.

Also with regard to parent’s right of withdrawing their children from both RE and Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) lessons only nine per cent disagreed with a massive 86 per cent agreeing.

Furthermore she has chosen to ignore the fact that over 60 per cent of this country identify as people of faith (including 57 per cent Christian)as shown in the 2011 Census.

The latest Census showed that out of non-religious groups there are 1,506 atheists and only 815 Humanists in Wales compared to 1,846,531 people of faith of which 1,763,299 are Christians. Compared to Atheists and Humanists there are nearly 800 TIMES more people of faith!

Where therefore does she get this mandate to significantly empower Humanists( including the power of veto over R.E. curriculum etc) to the detriment of people of faith?

With regard to changes to Relationship and Sexuality Education which we understand will be voted on at the same time, your readers are no doubt aware that currently sex education is optional for Primary schools and taught in Secondary schools but where, in both cases, the right of parents to withdraw their children is respected.

It is proposed that the current legal requirement “that content is appropriate to the age and religious background of pupils” is to be abolished for both primary and secondary schools and parents will no longer be able to withdraw their children.

Furthermore, our Senedd Members are being asked to vote “blind” because the RSE Code setting out the content of the new subject has apparently not been published yet.

Also our teachers who may have genuine reasons of conscience and do not wish to teach this sex education curriculum, nor atheistic/Humanist philosophies may be compelled to do so or face serious disciplinary measures.

All told these proposals, if passed, could see generations of our impressionable children in Wales being indoctrinated with atheistic/humanist views as well as inappropriate “sex education” against the express wishes of their parents.

This of course is totally unacceptable as not only does it fly in the face of democracy-imposing an agenda against the wishes of the vast majority of citizens in Wales as shown in the above polls etc, but it seeks to influence our children with the anti-religious values of a very small group of clearly vocal people .

We believe this will have far reaching negative effects for the people of Wales for years to come if this bill is not voted down and therefore appeal to those of your readers who are also concerned to express their views to both their Local and Regional Senedd Members.

Michael Halsey