Religious diversity in schools
9 September 2003
Education Minister Kader Asmal on Tuesday unveiled the country's policy on religion and education, which promotes a co-operative model for schools and recognises religious diversity while protecting learners from discrimination and coercion.
Presenting the policy in Cape Town, Asmal said religion in schools should be handled respectfully, with integrity and within the framework of tolerance and human rights set out in the Constitution.
Religion in schools will be taught as part of life orientation skills, which is one of eight learning areas covering, among other things, health, sports, arts and culture. Although religion will be an examinable subject, it will be taught for the learners' enrichment and not to seek a particular outcome.
Pupils will start learning about other religions than their own from grade 1, beginning with aspects such as symbols, important days and clothing. In grade 6 they will be assessed according to their
ability to discuss the dignity of the person in a variety of religions.
The policy also outlines ways in which multi-religious schools can handle religious observances. These include separating children according to their beliefs and conducting separate observances.
According to the policy, opportunities for observance should also be rotated in proportion to the representation of different religions in the school. Texts from various religions should be read at every observance, and schools can conduct religious observances provided these occurred on a free, voluntary and equitable basis.
Asmal encouraged school governing bodies and religious organisations to determine the nature and content of religious observances within the scope of the Constitution and the SA Schools Act.
The policy is the result of years of research, starting with a national education policy investigation in the early 1990s, which was carried on by the National Education and Training
Forum between 1993 and 1994. This led to provisions on religion being included in the South African Schools Act.
The policy was further developed by a ministerial committee on religion and education in 1999 and the Standing Advisory Committee on Religion and Education, which was established in 2000.
Asmal said the policy would not be implemented before teachers were properly trained and the necessary learning materials provided. He added that departmental officials and provincial MECs would travel around the country to explain the policy to the public.
Source: BuaNews
| 
