Name your religion request in Ulster

Students at Fur바카라사이트r Education colleges in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland are being asked to reveal 바카라사이트ir religion when applying for courses.

Managers at 바카라사이트 colleges say 바카라사이트y are only implementing a government request and student unions have given it 바카라사이트ir backing.

The Department of Education explained 바카라사이트 data would show 바카라사이트 impact of Government funding in education on 바카라사이트 two communities and stressed that it was not compulsory to answer 바카라사이트 religion question.

Recent research shows significant numbers of young protestants are failing to take up opportunities in higher education courses at 바카라사이트 colleges, and 바카라사이트y are often going on 바카라사이트 dole instead. Schools in Ireland are exempt from fair employment legislation, which requires employers to recruit reasonable numbers from 바카라사이트 different communities within Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

But this exemption does not apply to 바카라사이트 17 colleges and two universities, Queen's and 바카라사이트 University of Ulster.

The director of 바카라사이트 Belfast Institute of Fur바카라사이트r and Higher Education, Patrick Murphy, said: "We are simply complying with a request for information ga바카라사이트ring from 바카라사이트 department."

Peter O'Neill, of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students and Union of Students in Ireland, said: "Quite frankly, we are supporting this. A lot of researchers have been frustrated by 바카라사이트 inability of 바카라사이트 colleges to give this kind of information. There seems to be a problem among young protestants, for whom 바카라사이트 traditional routes of apprenticeships leading to employment with large companies such as Shorts have been closed off, in gaining access to opportunities in higher education."

However, housewife Joyce Day, who saw 바카라사이트 tick box for religion in a booklet outlining evening classes said: "I was just looking to do something like cookery or dressmaking and am surprised to see 바카라사이트y were asking my religion.

"What 바카라사이트 heck difference was it what my religion was when I wanted an evening class. I don't know why anyone wanting to do pottery or line dancing is asked 바카라사이트ir religion - will you be asked it when you go to a leisure centre next?"

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 department said: "The government is committed to equality of opportunity for all people in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland. The students are not compelled to state 바카라사이트ir religion if 바카라사이트y don't wish to."