Uniformity and diversity in religious education in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This paper considers the tension that can exist in the aims of religious education between the desire to encourage open‐minded, critical thinking through exposure to diverse traditions, ideas and cultures and the encouragement, overt or otherwise, into uniformity whereby learners take on the values of a particular tradition, culture or ideology (say of a religion, family or school). The particular situation of teaching religious education to post‐primary school pupils in Northern Ireland is considered, and evidence cited to suggest that the Northern Ireland Core Syllabus in Religious Education has tried to impose a particular non‐denominational Christian uniformity on pupils and teachers through its use of religious language. This has contributed to a culture of ‘avoidance’ in relation to the teaching of broad Christian diversity. The article concludes that there is a need for an ongoing and meaningful dialogue to discover what kind of balance between uniformity and diversity is best in teaching religious education in Northern Ireland, and notes that this also requires the reassessment of fundamental issues such as the aims of education and the relationship between secular and religious values in publicly funded schools.

Notes

* Stranmillis University College, Belfast, BT9 5DY, Northern Ireland. Email: [email protected]

The research for this paper was conducted as part of the writing of a textbook, The Christian Church (Nelson & Gilbride, 2003) for use at Key Stage 4 in the teaching of religious education in Northern Ireland. Elements of this paper were originally part of a presentation, ‘The RE Class as an Interface between Christian Traditions’, given at the joint Conference of University Lecturers in Religious Education/NATFHE Religious Studies Conference in King's College London, September 2002.

Legislation states that controlled schools must remain ‘undenominational’ (HMSO, 1986).

Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) (2002) unpublished examination statistics made available through private correspondence.

Department of Education, Northern Ireland (DENI) (2002) unpublished examination statistics made available through private correspondence.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

James Nelson *

* Stranmillis University College, Belfast, BT9 5DY, Northern Ireland. Email: [email protected]