Schools must respect every students’ worship freedom

Phillip Etale

NAIROBI, KENYA: The landmark ruling by High Court Judge Justice Isaac Lenaola directing all public secondary schools to exempt students who subscribe to the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) from weekend classes was not only a constitutional right to the students but also respect to the freedom of worship.

Justice Lenaola Solomonic ruling after a year of begging by the Seventh Day Adventist Church (East Africa) Limited was a reprieve to the thousands of students who are members of this church and who have for years been denied their freedom to worship as their church requires.

The Church had sought relaxation of the rules for SDA students to worship while a case between them and Ministry of Education progresses in court.

According to the doctrine of the SDA Church, Saturday is the seventh day, which God rested after creation. This day is referred to by the SDA faithful as Sabbath (Sabato).

This is the day SDAs take leave from daily activities to rest and worship. Those who have lived, worked or interacted with SDAs will attest to the fact that ‘Sabato’ begins on the evening of every Friday. When the Church petitioned the Government early last year to intervene and compel some 23 secondary schools to exempt students who subscribe to the faith from weekend classes, the matter should have been sorted out through a ministerial circular. It is a shame that simple matters taken to Government, and which can be resolved in the boardroom, have to be procrastinated to the extent of the petitioners seeking legal justice.

George Carlin, an American comedian, puts it this way: “Religion is like a pair of shoes... Find one that fits for you, but don’t make me wear your shoes.” Kenyan schools behave like final authority on matters religion. When one’s faith states that they must worship on Saturday, let this be respected. Even in the disciplined forces, SDA officers are given ‘off days’ on Saturday to attend church.

Institutions of learning should know that too much reading without rest cannot make a student pass examinations. Many Christian denominations worship on Sundays and many schools allow Sunday Mass services in their compounds or allow students to go to church outside. The same status can be accorded those who subscribe to the SDA faith.

Schools must not enslave students to faiths doctrines they do not subscribe to. What most schools do in non-SDA regions is to force students who subscribe to this faith to attend Sunday mass services together with those who worship on this day. Freedom of worship is one of the most fundamental freedoms in our Constitution. It is allowed worldwide and the Holy Books are clear on it. Kenya being a multi-sectoral society, all religions and faiths must be treated equally.

In Islamic States, Friday is the rest day.Schools must not discriminate against SDA students by subjecting them to days of worship that are not in line with their faith.  Give equal opportunity to all students.