Majority of Estonian politicians seem unwilling to link the issue of religious studies to  the forthcoming elections of the parliament (Riigikogu).

The subject of religious education will most likely be excluded from the debates of parliamentary elections of March 2007, given that the majority of Riigikogu voted against a proposal to make religious studies compulsory for all students in secondary schools from  autumn 2007.

The proposal providing for religious education was rejected with the majority of 17:12. In addition, the vote indicates lack of enthusiasm among the MPs over the subject, as the poceedings had been initiated by 5 more votes than  were given in the deciding vote on the sensitive issue.

The indifference of Riigikogu towards making the Christianity biased religious studies compulsory  is consistent with the distribution of religious views among Estonians. Following the European Commission's Eurobarometer poll conducted in 2005, only 16% of Estonians believe there is a God. This ranks lowest in Europe, with the Czech Republic and Sweden to follow with 19 and 23 per cent respectively. The European average is 52%.

Concerning national identity, it is noteworthy that according to the poll as much as 54% of Estonian citizens believe there is some sort of spirit or life force. This number is Europe's highest, again followed by Sweden and the Czech Republic with 53 and 50 per cent respectively, while the European average is 27%.

For primary education, the rejected proposal foresaw religious studies as optional courses.

Compulsory religious education is opposed by representatives of non-Christian religious societies, including Maavalla Koda. It is argued to abridge freedom of religion, add to the already oveloaded curricula and cause unjustifiable spending of public funds.  As the teachers of religion are prepared by Christian (Protestant) educational institutions and non-Christian religious societies are denied access to drawing up the curriculum, the discipline cannot be taught in an unbiased and balanced manner. Thus it is desirable that knowledge on religions continues to be delivered in the framework of existing disciplines such as history, society, geography, literature and art.

In the last ten years Christian circles have urged on compulsory religious studies in the school curricula, obviously in desire of gaining greater control over the overwhelmingly secular population.  Similar tendencies show in the activity of the Estonian Council of Churches which has achieved establishment of chaplaincy in Estonian  prisons and army. They also strive for hiring clergymen in police, national airports, railway stations, etc. This has lead analysts to conclude that the Church is willing to establish state religion in a country that is secular according to its constitution.

Ombudsman against religious studies in schools

•• In June 2006, Allar Jõks, Estonian obudsman, stated on the basis of Estonian Constitution that religious studies must be optional.
•• Paragraph 40 of Estonian Constitution provides for freedom of religion and the absence of state church, noted Allar Jõks. On his demand, Tartu Treffner School recently had to give up compulsory courses of religious studies.
•• According to the Ombudsman, religious studies should be a discipline with neutral approach to any religion, which implies objective, critical and pluralist teaching.

Maavalla Koda