Students in Iqaluit will not receive bibles in class anytime soon.

The Iqaluit District Education Authority has decided not to allow any religious material to be handed out in city schools.

A vote was held Monday night. Alan Weeks, chair of the Iqaluit DEA, says the decision was meant to be fair to all faiths.

Allan Weeks, with the Iqaluit District Education Authority, says if they were to allow bibles in Iqaluit public schools, they would have to allow other faith-based materials as well. CBC

“There are all kinds of venues out there. I mean, a person could stand on the street and pass out anything, and I believe the board felt that this was not the appropriate venue. And like I said, if we did it for one, we would have to do it for all,” said Weeks.

Weeks said the education authority got three angry letters from parents who did not want bibles distributed in schools.

He said the authority did not get any letters supporting the idea, and he adds it has not been approached by any faith-based organizations.

The debate over the distribution of religious materials in public schools was sparked after the Arviat District Education Authority allowed a Christian group to hand out bibles to students.

The Nunavut Department of Education says its up to local DEAs to decide whether religious material can be handed out in schools.