Schools keep faith

FAITH-BASED schools must be able to hire and fire teachers and staff based on their beliefs, an inquiry into religious freedoms has been told.

The ability to eject students who pose a threat to religious communities must remain, Christian Schools Australia said.

In a joint submission with Adventist Schools Australia, the association warned the review – led by former minister Philip Ruddock – that the “essential nature” of schools would be undermined if they could no longer employ staff with shared values and beliefs.

“If freedom of religion is to remain a legitimate hallmark of Australian education then the rights of school communities to operate in accordance with religious beliefs must be upheld,” the submission said.