---

Harrow Times, UK
Nov. 29, 2007
Jack Royston
www.harrowtimes.co.uk

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 20026 • Posted: Monday December 3, 2007  

---

A row has broken out after the first state funded Hindu school in Britain revealed its admissions policy will give preferential treatment to certain pupils.

The Hindu Council UK (HCUK) has criticised the Krishna Avanti School, which will be built in Camrose Avenue, after it announced it will accept applications from strict Hindus ahead of other groups.

HCUK claimed yesterday the admissions policy, which gives priority to applications from families which are vegetarian and do not drink alcohol, is based on the ISKCON, or Hare Krishna religion.

Jay Lakhani, HCUK’s director for education, said: “The Krishna Avanti school was offered state-funding and is being allowed to open as a ‘Hindu’ rather than an ‘ISKCON’ school.

“That is what it should be, a truly Hindu school that serves and reflects the wider Harrow Hindu community with its kaleidoscopic Hindu diversity.”

But I-Foundation, the charity behind the school, has dismissed the criticisms and is putting together a list of signatures from religious leaders defending the school.

Nitesh Gor, director of the I-Foundation, 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 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.”

The school will have only one class of 30 pupils in each year. The schools admissions policy document suggests it will be heavily over-subscribed.

Children from families who carry out regular temple related voluntary work and attend temple regularly will also be considered first.

The school will prioritise Hindu children in the care of local authorities, or in council run accommodation, above all other groups.

Do you think the admissions policy is unfair? Let us know by posting a comment below.

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Hare Krishna, Hinduism Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Hare Krishna, Hinduism Read Another Article Previous entry: Dutch museum pulls art that may offend Muslims Next entry: Mitt Romney to address his Mormon faith in speech RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Hare Krishna Most Popular Today Cult of Christianity leaves trail of dead children; parents in latest case on trial

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.