Several Christian "fundamentalist" schools in the UK have been teaching extreme ideology to students like telling girls that they must obey men, a media report said today.
Called Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) schools, these institutions originate from an education system developed in southern Baptist states in the US which has developed off-shoots around the world including in Britain. Between 20 and 60 pupils aged between four and 18 attend each one.
These "fundamentalist" schools are teaching children creationism over evolution, that gay people are "unnatural" and that girls must submit to men, the Independent reported quoting some former students.
The paper claimed that a number of textbooks which are reportedly used in schools appear to include "worrying content about gay people, women's rights and also appear to teach creationism as fact."
The former pupils and whistle-blowers said the schools, which are registered as independent or private schools, teach children at isolated desks separated by "dividers" from other students.
"No one outside the schools knows about what happens inside them, that's why they've been able to go on like this for so long," a former student said.
According to the report, a number of serious concerns have been raised about the schools, including allegations that children are given no formal educational qualifications beyond "Christian certificates", thereby failing to equip them for opportunities and employment beyond the Church.
Former pupils say this self-teaching format resulted in poor education standards. Many of them said they felt socially isolated by the segregated booths and failed to develop social skills by interacting with peers.
"By the time I left the school, I hadn't really learnt anything that was of any relevance. I was taught facts and figures from reading the books, but there was no social learning in terms of interaction," a former student said.
Christian Education Europe, which runs ACE schools in the UK, said their schools meet all the guidelines of Department for Education and their curriculum is broad, fair and balanced.
"All the schools provide citizenship on the timetable and we embrace British values as part of the school culture. Life with students is experienced beyond the textbook and carried into an understanding that is suitable for modern day Britain," a spokesperson said.
The UK's Department for Education said all schools will be inspected against new, tougher conditions to ensure UK-wide standards are being met.
"All schools must promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect for different faiths and beliefs. This is a vital part of providing educational excellence everywhere.
"ACE schools, like all other independent schools, are inspected against the new, tougher Independent School Standards, and where there are concerns a school is failing to meet these standards we will not hesitate to take action," a spokesperson said.
