The Indian community has criticised Labour’s new policy to abolish private schools, that would lead to hundreds of faith schools shutting down.
A motion passed at Labour Conference said that Labour would ‘integrate all private schools into the state sector’ and called for ‘endowments, investments and properties held by private schools to be redistributed democratically across the country’s educational institution.'
This has been confirmed by Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell MP, who has said religious schools would have to integrate into the state sector.
Labour have previously announced they would impose a ‘common rulebook’ on all schools, removing faith schools’ autonomy to design their own admission policy and tailor their own curriculum to match their ethos.
Responding, Robert Jenrick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government said, “This is another attack on faith schools from Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party, who want to take away the freedom of parents to choose how to educate their children.
“The diversity of our schools reflects the rich tapestry of faiths and communities which make up the fabric of our society.
“Labour now plans to shut down hundreds of faith schools, forcing them to sell off their assets, playing politics with our children’s futures.
“The Conservative government will always stand by faith schools and support the right of parents to decide how to give their children the best start in life.”
