Sydney, Australia - PLANS to fund chaplains for schools threatens secular education in the public system and favours private schools, teacher and school groups warn.
The Federal Government will spend $90 million on the program, which will help employ chaplains in government and non-government schools.
Schools will be able to apply for a $20,000 subsidy for chaplains, who will be non-denominational.
Critics say the plan promotes the view that "values" are the province of religious faith only and that the money could be better spent on training student welfare workers.
But the Federal Government defended the plan, saying it provides choice and would not force religion on children. Taking on a chaplain would be voluntary, with a full-time chaplain estimated to cost more than $55,000.
The Australian Education Union said the plan was divisive and the "overwhelming majority of schools" would not take up the offer.
The union's Victorian branch president, Mary Bluett, said the scheme threatened secular education in public schools.
"Despite what the Prime Minister might say about them (chaplains) not being denominational, this will be seen to be promoting religion," she said. "This is a funding windfall to non-government schools who will take it up willingly."
Ms Bluett said schools should be allowed to use the money for youth workers or welfare officers.
The Victorian Council of School Organisations said the plan undermined secular public schools.
Council president Jacinta Cashen said: "The Howard Government … is saying public education should have a religious aspect because that's where values lie. What's next — have chapels in our schools so kids can go to Mass?"
Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop said parents were looking for values in educating their children and that the scheme provided more choice.
"It's up to the school community to determine whether they want the chaplaincy services and, if they do, what sort of services they want," she told ABC radio. The appointment of chaplains will also need the approval of the Federal Government.
The Council for Christian Education in Schools rejected claims that the program would impose religion on children. "The brief of our chaplains is to help all kids, whatever faith," said the council's chief executive, the Reverend Evonne Paddison. The council has about 70 chaplains in Victorian schools, largely funded through donations and fund-raising.
Federal Opposition education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said the program must account for different religious beliefs. Victorian Education Minister Lynne Kosky said she was "comfortable" with the initiative but it was important that a particular religion was not pushed "without a choice that is demonstrated by children and their parents".