The Integrated Education Fund (IEF) welcomes the recent announcement by Education Minister Paul Givan MLA to undertake a comprehensive response to the Supreme Court judgment on Religious Education (RE) and collective worship in Northern Ireland schools.
Paul Caskey OBE, Chief Executive of the Integrated Education Fund, commented:
“The Integrated Education Fund (IEF) welcomes the recent announcement by Education Minister Paul Givan MLA to undertake a comprehensive response to the Supreme Court judgment on Religious Education (RE) and collective worship in Northern Ireland schools. The IEF welcomes the Minister’s intention to revise the RE curriculum and to introduce formal inspection of RE in all schools.
The IEF has long advocated for a review of the RE curriculum to ensure it reflects the diversity of faiths and beliefs in our society and supports children and young people learning about religion and belief in a balanced, inclusive and respectful way. The Supreme Court judgment has underlined the importance of ensuring that RE and collective worship are compatible with human rights obligations and the lived reality of an increasingly diverse society.
The IEF would be of the view that a wide range of expertise, opinion and cultural backgrounds must be brought into this process and that all faiths and none are represented.
The IEF has highlighted the need for clarity, guidance and consistency in how RE, assemblies and religious practice are delivered. In this context, the IEF, alongside the Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and the Association of Principal Teachers in Integrated Schools (APTIS), recently launched ‘Faith and Belief in School’, Guidance for RE, assembly and religious practice in Integrated primary schools. This guidance is designed to support Integrated primary schools as they seek to embed inclusive approaches to faith and belief. Whilst this was produced prior to the Supreme Court ruling, it is a practical resource which may be helpful for all primary schools.
The IEF believes the Minister’s announcement provides a timely opportunity to ensure that RE and collective worship are fit for purpose across all schools. The IEF looks forward to engaging constructively with the Department of Education and other stakeholders as this work progresses, to help ensure that future RE curriculum and collective worship reflects inclusion, equality and the educational needs of all children and young people.”
