France’s National Assembly has passed an education bill that includes a clause calling for religion and its history to be taught in French public schools.
The bill, which still must be examined by the French Senate before becoming law, also makes learning France’s national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” obligatory in French primary schools.
The measure passed March 2 appears surprising in a country that in 2004 banned public schools students from wearing head scarves, crosses and other conspicuous religious symbols to class.
The education bill was passed by 346-171, with opposition Socialist and other leftist parties voting against it. But the two amendments on the teaching of religion and the “Marseillaise” in school were passed unanimously, according to French news reports.
(RNS)
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