The introduction of religious education in public schools would lead to a deepening of divisions in Montenegrin society and show that the values of secularism are being lost, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assessed.
The European Association for Law and Finance, NGO Prima, Juventas, Association of Lawyers, Center for Women's Rights, Association Parents, Association of History Professors, NGO Naša Akcija, ADAMAS, Committee of Young Lawyers and Union of High School Students said that instead of religious education, it is necessary civic education of young people.
Those NGOs said that they are concerned about the proposal to introduce religious teaching into the official education system, due to the constitutional determination of the secularity of the state, the civil concept, deep divisions in society and sharp political polarization around the issue.
As reminded by those NGOs, the Constitution treats and defines Montenegro as a civil and secular state, which implies an arrangement based on the separation of religious and public institutions.
"The introduction of religious education in public schools would show that the values of secularism are being lost and are moving in the direction of a religious understanding of the world and possible discrimination against members of different faiths, or those who do not have religious beliefs," said the announcement of 11 NGOs.
According to them, this is supported by the fact that in 2009 the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia rejected the government's proposal for a law on the teaching of religious education in primary schools, considering that it violates the constitutional provision on the separation of state and religious organizations.
"It is particularly controversial that the introduction of religious education would inevitably lead to a deepening of divisions in Montenegrin society, especially among children and young people," the announcement states.
This, as stated, does not correspond to the purpose of education, which implies providing students with overall personality development and developing a sense of community and respect for the other and different.
11 NGOs said that the introduction of religious education in public schools would also violate the European Convention on Human Rights because, as they said, students would be forced to declare their religion.
"That is, the subject of religious education would impose an obligation on students to express interest or lack of interest in religious learning, on the basis of which a conclusion can be drawn about their religious belief," the statement said.
It is stated that the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly emphasized that a person cannot be forced to disclose religious beliefs and adopt some manner of behavior from which it could be concluded that he has or does not have such beliefs.
"Just as state authorities are not allowed to interfere with a person's freedom of conscience by asking about their religious beliefs, or by forcing them to express them," the statement added.
According to the signatories of the statement, even if religious education were to be introduced as a subject, not providing an alternative would be contrary to the practice of the European Court of Human Rights.
"The research that the European Association for Law and Finance conducted last year among the young population in Montenegro indicated a low level of political and media literacy among young people, lack of knowledge of rights and responsibilities, the existence of undemocratic attitudes, the strengthening of intolerance and exclusivity," the statement said.
The research, as stated, also pointed to the lack of knowledge and skills needed for everyday life in a civil society.
11 NGOs pointed out the great importance of civic education and upbringing in the development of an informed, active, tolerant and responsible citizenry.
They said they support the proposal by Juventas, the Center for Civic Education, Action for Human Rights and the Center for Women's and Peace Education to make civics a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools.
The NGO said that civic education can, among other things, enable students to get acquainted with the basics of different world religions, so that they have basic knowledge, which they can deepen further, at their discretion.
They added that certain aspects of religion are studied through other subjects, such as history, and in later grades, sociology and philosophy.
"It is important to point out that religious communities are provided with all the infrastructure and teaching staff in all Montenegrin municipalities necessary for the implementation of religious education, and that is all the more reason that it is unnecessary to introduce it into public schools," the announcement says.
From 11 NGOs, they said that many contents, necessary for young people, such as sexual education, mental health and civic education, are still outside the regular program in public schools.
These NGOs believe that the introduction of religious education would further keep those contents far beyond the reach of male and female students.
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