Various representatives of the largest religious confessions in Argentina have expressed their concern to the country’s Minister of Education, Daniel Filmus, about “the dangerous absence of religious perspective in the first draft of an educational law that has been presented for debate.”

The religious leaders said they hoped the proposed law would uphold the notion of the “integral development of the person” in ethics, spirituality and religion and would include these elements at every level of education, “reinforcing respect for those who have diverse convictions” and preserving “popular religious traditions.”

They also said priority should be given to improving education for those who have been left behind, “especially kids who are living on the streets,” and to reinforcing parents in their roles as the “primary educators” of their children.

In addition the leaders said there should be greater equality in education, that state funding of education should be just and fair, and that the application of the law should be monitored closely by both the public and the private sectors.