Primary schools pupils will spend less time learning religion and be subject to a revised curriculum under the biggest changes to the subject in more than 20 years.
Instead, there will be more time devoted to the core curriculum with a new focus on foreign languages and ‘wellbeing’.
The measures are contained in a new framework for the primary curriculum that was recently signed off by the State’s advisory body on the curriculum, The Irish Times has reported.
The 40-page blueprint, likely to be published by Minister for Education Norma Foley early in 2023, sets out the planned structure and content of the next curriculum for primary schools.
The report advises that the length of time spent teaching religion be cut by half an hour a week, from two-and-a-half hours a week to two hours.
In addition, religion would be supported by a new curriculum on “religion, ethical and multi-belief education”, to give pupils a wider perspective on beliefs.
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/education/2022/12/28/religion-teaching-time-to-be-cut-in-new-primary-curriculum/