Atheists in Kenya Society has written to Education CS Prof George Magoha asking him to ban forced prayers in schools.
The Society stated that it had received several complaints from students in Kenyan schools who had been forced to attend church services on Sundays.
“Most Kenyans have gone through a public education system where organized, mandatory observance of religious practice was a must.
“This culture is still rampant in many primary and secondary schools. It is time to rethink the question of mandatory prayer and religious observance in our public school system,” read the letter in part.
Further, the atheists argued that schools are meant for all children regardless of their religious beliefs and it is the duty of churches and mosques to instill beliefs, not schools.
They also asked parents to weigh in on the issue since it is their children who are most affected.
“Public education should provide students with critical reasoning and decision-making tools so they can make informed choices. The goal of education is to foster a sense of natural curiosity and a love for learning, not to memorize facts and recite dogma.
“Public schools must focus on presenting multiple unbiased views and allow students to draw their own conclusions,” read the letter.
Prayer days are common in most schools especially when candidates are about to sit for national examinations.
On such days, the school administration extends an invitation to parents and guardians to join students in prayer to ensure a smooth examination period.