UK's first Hindu state school attacked over admissions policy » Communities » 24dash.com

The UK's first Hindu state school could exclude most followers of the religion under controversial admissions plans, it was claimed today.

The Krishna-Avanti school in Harrow, north London, has come under fire from the Hindu Council UK over its policy to give places first to pupils whose parents adhere to teachings such as vegetarianism and teetotalism.

The £10m primary school, due to open next year, is being set up by the I-Foundation charity in association with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), also known as Hare Krishna.

It is expected to receive a large number of applications from Britain's
1.5 million Hindus, 40,000 of whom live in the London Borough of Harrow.

The Hindu Council UK said the school's Hare Krishna ideology was out of step with mainstream Hinduism both in Britain and India and would rule out children from families who do not take the same approach to the faith.

It would also exclude those who are not strict vegetarians and eat - as many Hindus do - meat, excluding beef, fish, and eggs or who occasionally drink alcohol.

However, the charity said its admissions policy was intended to mirror those used by other faith schools that are oversubscribed.

I-Foundation director Nitesh Gor said: "In common with other faith schools - which may require letters from priests or proof of church or synagogue attendance - we want to give priority to those that are most active in their faith.

"The definition we have arrived at includes regular home and temple worship, as well as vegetarianism and avoiding alcohol.

"We recognise that some Hindus may eat meat in very specific prescribed circumstances and the criteria are not intended to exclude them.

"Broadly these criteria reflect practices which are common to all mainstream Hindu movements in the UK.

"We will, of course, welcome applications from any Hindu however they practice their belief and will welcome them at the school as places allow."

But the Hindu Council UK said the policy was unfair because it imposed the rules of one minority sect within Hinduism on all those wishing to apply for places.

Jay Lakhani, the council's director for education, said: "The Government, the local authorities and mainstream Hindus have been duped
- they are actually getting a Hare Krishna school instead of a Hindu school."

The council, which has previously backed the school, called for a meeting to discuss the admissions plans.

Mr Lakhani added: "In my opinion it would be better not to have this school than to allow it to exclude 90% of children from Hindu families.
We are asking the local authorities to rethink their decision."

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