LETTER: Surrey schools shouldn’t recognize faith-based holidays
Published 9:00 am Saturday, March 14, 2026
Editor,
Re: Surrey secondary school embraces Ramadan
I agree with the concerns expressed in the recent letter regarding religious observances in Surrey public schools.
Section 76 of the B.C. School Act is very clear: all schools must be conducted on strictly secular and non-sectarian principles. This standard exists to ensure that public education remains inclusive and fair for students of every background, belief, and worldview.
Surrey is one of the most diverse communities in Canada, home to people of many faiths, cultures, and traditions. That diversity is something to respect and appreciate. However, it also reinforces the importance of maintaining religious neutrality in public institutions, particularly schools.
When a public school chooses to actively recognize or celebrate one specific religious observance, it raises the question of fairness and consistency. If one religion is accommodated or highlighted, then logically the same consideration should be extended to all others. In a community with dozens of different faith traditions, this would be extremely difficult to manage and could ultimately shift the focus of schools away from their primary purpose: education.
Public schools should be spaces where all students feel equally included regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. The best way to achieve this is by keeping religious practices separate from the public school system and maintaining a secular environment for learning.
Families who wish for their children to receive education within a particular faith tradition have many options available through private and faith-based schools, which exist precisely for that purpose.
Respecting diversity does not require public schools to adopt or promote religious observances. Instead, it means ensuring that public institutions remain neutral so that every student is treated equally.
For these reasons, I believe Surrey and B.C. public schools should adhere closely to the secular principles outlined in the School Act and avoid incorporating religious observances into school activities.
Sincerely,
Muhammad Afzal Malik, Surrey