WHILE having no objection to the recently-granted funding to schools for the followers of Islam, I feel it is a retrograde step for racial harmony.

Children of different cultural backgrounds should be actively encouraged to come together as much as possible. Unfortunately, the only contact at present is in the schools and to take this away can only be detrimental for racial relations.

I appreciate that Muslim families are concerned that their children's faith may be weakened by contact with the Christian religion. Possibly, a better solution would be to take away the compulsory aspect of teaching the Christian religion in schools.

I accept that Christians would find this offensive, but surely, they should ask themselves what is wrong with their religion if it requires legal penalties to keep it alive.

Personally, I feel that no child should be exposed to religious teaching of any kind until they are mature enough to fully understand its real meaning.

G SMITH, Bold Street, Blackburn.

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