Catholic primary schools will be forced to set aside time to introduce children to faiths and traditions from around the world if recommended changes to the curriculum are adopted.
A new consultation paper launched by The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) suggests that a subject called Education about Religion and Beliefs and Ethics should be taught separately to religion classes in denominational schools.
Catholic schools currently allocate up to three hours per week for faith-based classes, taking in first holy communion and confirmation preparation. Under the new curriculum, students would also learn about other religions, including secular beliefs, in an effort to help them understand the lives, values and traditions of friends, classmates and members of the wider community and build an informed awareness of the world around them.
The consultation on the proposals for the new curriculum is now open and will continue into spring 2016. The NCCA will be engaging with a range of audiences including: teachers, schools, parents, children, educational partners, patrons, children’s advocacy groups and other members of the general public.
An information leaflet for parents is available here.
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