Benefits of religious education not realised in the UK

[Amelia]

Benefits of religious education not realised in the UK

17-06-2007

IRNA

London, (IRNA): Religious education (RE) in the UK has improved overall in the past few years but the full benefits of its contribution to society is not being realized, according to a five year study published Sunday.

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) said that RE often makes a positive contribution to the development of pupils' understanding of diversity and to the promotion of community cohesion.

"However the curriculum and teaching in RE, particularly in secondary schools, do not place sufficient emphasis on exploring the changing political and social significance of religion in the modern world," the watchdog found.

"As a result, the full potential of the subject to contribute to community cohesion, education for diversity and citizenship is not being realized," in said in a 43-page report on 'Making sense of religion: a report on religious education in schools.'

Ofsted's director of education Miriam Rosen said that recent improvements in RE are welcome but that "more needs to be done if the subject is to develop in students a more profound understanding of the significance of religious commitment and diversity and its impact on society."

"Recent world events, the rise of more fundamentalist forms of religion, the growth of faith schools and the debate about the relationship between religion and British identity have given a new impetus and urgency to RE," Rose said.

The report argued that RE should "not ignore controversy or the changes in the role and significance of religion in the modern world."

"Pupils should be taught that religion is complex, that its impact is ambiguous and should be given the opportunity to explore that ambiguity," it said.

Oftsed concluded that the subject needed to embrace the study of religion and society and for the current focus on ethical or philosophical issues needs to be complemented by consideration of questions about the social role of religion.

"At present, it was unusual to find topics which deal with religion's role in society, changing patterns in religion in the local, national and global community, or the changing nature of religious belief and practice," it said.

At state schools, RE is unique in not being part of the National Curriculum even though it is a statutory subject. Instead, the content is determined by locally agreed syllabuses.

As a result, the watchdog found that despite general improvements, there were still wide variations in the quality of provision, and that achievement by pupils remains very inconsistent.

As such, it questioned whether the subject in non-faith maintained schools is best served by the current arrangements and called for a review of the current statutory position of RE.