BASHIR Mann's plea for Muslims to receive their religious education in separately State-funded schools is quite understandable, and has my sympathy.

However, given the religious bigotry in Northern Ireland and south-west Scotland, which largely stems from the segregation of Catholic children from Protestant, such a move should be opposed in the best interest of all concerned.

Religious education is to be applauded, whether by Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, or Jew. But the place for this is not in the school but at home within the family and at the church to which the family adheres.

As a member of our local academy school board I can vouch for the fact that we have 1100 pupils of all (and none) religions mixing freely and harmoniously, none aware which faith is practised by the other.

If we are to achieve a prosperous and peaceful Scotland following the election of a Scottish Parliament to that end one of the most desirable pieces of legislation to be introduced would cover the doing away of religious segregation within our schools.

When will we ever learn the terrible dangers inherent in any type of segregation?

Ken Humphreys,

Pelaig, Dingwall. May 25.

IN his Open Forum article (May 25) Bashir Mann expresses reservations about denominational schools, but says that the public authorities are still failing to meet the needs of Muslims within the State school system. As a humanist, I should like to see a desegregated State educational system which catered for all children whatever their cultural background. In order to achieve this, the various religious groups would have to be prepared to state their needs clearly and with due regard to the needs of other belief systems.

I do not believe that the State should be responsible for the provision of teachers to conduct religious instruction, although I think that facilities should be provided so that the parents and their Church authorities could meet this need.

I believe in co-educational schooling and it seems that at least some Muslims would also accept this provided that ''sport and recreational activities'' were conducted on a segregated basis.

I do not know whether Mr Mann would classify my views of Islam as ''open'' or ''closed'', or if he himself takes an open view of other belief systems such as humanism, but I am quite sure that a real open and diverse democracy requires a degree of give-and-take from all of us.

Mr Mann tells us that Muslims believe that only their religious values can save them from the evils of ''drugs, drink, promiscuity, and gambling''. I have to confess that I do take a drink, and having no religious beliefs, I don't know what has saved me from the other three.

John Clunas,

5 Cairnlee Avenue East,

Cults, Aberdeen. May 25.