The Iona Institute Primary school religion hours face cuts under proposed RE shake-up

Time allotted to faith formation in Catholic primary schools could be slashed under new Religious Education plans unveiled by the Government, The Irish Independent reports.

The Education about Religion, Beliefs and Ethics (ERBE) subject is being proposed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) as an additional component of the school day to introduce children to all world religions. However, in an already packed curriculum, it is likely that to accommodate its inclusion, the daily 30-minute slot currently afforded to religious backed schools for faith formation will be curtailed.

Professor Eamonn Conway of Mary Immaculate teacher training college said the proposal was “bizarre”, adding that its introduction would “undoubtedly adversely affect religious instruction and a faith-based school’s characteristic ethos”.

Prof. Conway said ERBE’s remit would mean “a faith-based school would be required to offer what is essentially a secularist understanding of religious faith”.

The formulation of ERBE has come directly from a recommendation made by the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector, the body established by then-Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn which led to the ongoing divestment programme for some Catholic schools.

While ERBE has reportedly found backing from Ireland’s largest teaching union, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), the NCAA has issued a consultation document on the new subject, inviting input from members of the public before it submits its final advice to Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan.

For more on ERBE and the consultation process, see:http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Early_Childhood_and_Primary_Education/Primary-Education/Primary_Developments/ERB-and-E/Developments/Consultation/Consultation.html ^[1]