Under plans announced this week, all primary schools will be required to teach new classes on religion and ethics.
However, the new “religion, beliefs and ethics” classes, which focus on world religions and other belief systems, will be separate to existing faith-based classes in denominational schools.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has emphasised there are no plans to cut the time denominational schools can spend on teaching their own religion.
That’s because the 1998 Education Act protects the right of schools to set aside reasonable time in each school day for subjects relating to the school’s ethos.
In theory, these so-called patron’s programmes take up to half an hour a day. In practice, this varies significantly between schools.
Faith-based teaching
Some teachers in Catholic schools report little, if any, faith-based teaching outside classes preparing for Communion or Confirmation. Others are far more strict.
So, if 96 per cent of our primary schools are run by religious denominations, is there really a need for yet more religion in the classroom?
The council says the new classes will focus on the major forms of religions, traditions and views of people around the world, including secular beliefs.
The programme, it says, will help children develop empathy with people of diverse religions and beliefs.
In addition, it will include education in ethics and learning about the dignity and freedom of humans, as well as the importance of human rights and responsibilities in society.
The big concern for most people is “curriculum overload”. Finding space for the proposals in an already overcrowded curriculum will be a challenge.
The council says the question of time dedicated to the proposed religion and ethics curriculum will form part of a consultation process with parents and teachers.
Given demands on teaching time for maths and languages, it’s hard to see the new programme forming a major part of the national curriculum.
In the meantime, the council has invited schools and parents to give their views as part of a consultation process.
A questionnaire on the new curriculum is on its website.
