De vrijheid van onderwijs en de scheiding van kerk en staat

Abstract

This paper analyses the tensions perceived in the political debate between the freedom of education and the status of publicly funded denominational schools in the Netherlands on the one hand and the limitations flowing from the principles of separation of church and state and state neutrality on the other. It is argued that public funding of these schools is not incompatible with these principles – attention is drawn to a recent law which ensures some structural funding of religious instruction even on public schools – and that there are no good reasons – perceived risks with regard to issues of quality, segregation, indoctrination – to put an end to such funding.