Larger classes and no weekly obligation: Flanders reforms religious education

From 1 September, Flemish schools will have more freedom to organise religion and ethics classes, the Flemish government decided on Monday. Schools will no longer be obliged to teach two hours of religion or ethics every week, but will be allowed to bundle the lessons, for example, into one whole day per month. The reform had been in the pipeline for some time.

On Monday, the Flemish government reached an agreement on the long-awaited reform of the so-called “philosophy of life” subjects – ethics and the various recognised religions – in municipal, urban, provincial and community schools.

Today, Flanders requires schools to devote two hours each week to religious and ethical subjects. This causes practical problems. A large number of teachers must be found to teach ethics and the religions – Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, Jewish and Islamic. But often these teachers then find themselves teaching small groups.

From now on, Flanders will allow schools to bundle religious and ethical education. For example, in half a day every two weeks (two times two hours) or a full school day per month (four times two hours). Schools will also be able to collaborate more easily, exchange hours and, if necessary, work digitally or remotely.

This should make planning easier for schools. They can coordinate more closely to combine classes for, say, Protestant pupils. Fewer teachers will be needed to teach religious and ethical subjects each week. Teachers who are freed up can also be deployed elsewhere.

Recognising cultural diversity in schools helps pupils perform better

Recognising and appreciating pupils' cultural and religious diversity increases the likelihood that students in “super-diverse” schools perform...

belganewsagency.eu

“Currently, schools organise religious and ethical education as if we were still in the last century,” said Flemish education minister Zuhal Demir. “Schools waste too much time and resources on mini-classes. The existing system is fragmented, expensive and complex. We are now solving that. We are saving 100 million euros in a smart way.”

Initially, the intention was to replace the various religious and ethical subjects with a single subject, under the heading “inter-philosophical dialogue”. However, this approach conflicted with the Belgian Constitution, which states that official schools are obliged to offer the entire range of religions.

^{#FlandersNewsService | Illustration © PHOTO BELPRESS}

Related news

Baptism no longer required for religion teachers in Flemish Catholic schools

Religion teachers in Flemish Catholic primary and secondary schools will no longer have to be baptised to teach the Roman Catholic religion...

belganewsagency.eu