A DUNDEE Free Kirk minister who wants Scotland’s school system to return to its Christian foundations last night stated his proposal was “not sectarian or discriminitive.”

The Rev David Robertson, St Peter’s Free Church, fears a “small group of seculists” are plotting to squeeze Christian ethos and foundations out of Scotland’s non-denominational schools.

Mr Robertson proposed a resolution, which has been adopted by the church’s general assembly, outlining a need to investigate possibly establishing Christian-based schools.

Mr Robertson, who fears children are being fed a secular agenda, said he was not arguing for Presbyterian schools but schools with a Christian ethos across the denomination.

“What we think is happening is a very small group of seculists are plotting to take them over, whereby the state system is non-religious,” said Mr Robertson.

“By law each school has to have an act of worship, and most would still have a chaplain but there appears to be a continuing move away from religious education in mainstream schools.

“We don’t want American style state schools which are religion-free zones.

“Most people now assume our schools are meant to be secular but they are not.

“We want to see the state system returning to its Christian roots and Christian ethos.

“Both the Free Church and Church of Scotland established complete systems of schools in the 19th century, which they later handed over to the state.”

Mr Robertson said ideally he would want Scotland’s school system to return to its Christian foundations but Christian schools should be explored if things do not change.

The Free Church believes there is an emphasis on faith-based schools and with state-funded Muslim, Catholic and Church of England schools, it says it is hard to ignore the argument.

“If it continues the church may look to provide its own schools,” added Mr Robertson.

“At least it should be debated.

“We are not arguing for something sectarian or discriminitive.”