Concerns raised over church ‘sign-off’ role in RE reforms

Concerns have been raised by Northern Ireland Humanists of continued religious influence on the RE syllabus following the publication of the Department of Education (DoE)’s updated Terms of Reference for its review of the Religious Education (RE) core syllabus. Northern Ireland Humanists previously welcomed the move to reform RE following JR87, while also warning that reforms must deliver genuinely inclusive RE. However, the appointment of a church-led consultative group which will examine the reviewed syllabus before public consultation has led to questions about how inclusive it will be. 

Church involvement remains

The terms of reference confirm that a drafting group of up to 10 current RE teachers will produce a new syllabus. It also sets out that a churches’ consultative group (six representatives nominated via Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and the Transferors’ Representative Council) will be involved throughout. This includes reviewing the final draft before it goes to public consultation. Northern Ireland Humanists are concerned that giving church bodies a formal sign-off role ahead of any public consultation will hinder the role of the review process to produce a fully inclusive RE syllabus.

Role of non-religious voices in the consultation process

Those concerns were echoed in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 3 February, when SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole challenged Education Minister Paul Givan on how the voices of non-religious parents and pupils would be represented if churches can effectively block changes.

Questioning the minister, the MLA said:

‘There will be a new RE curriculum, however, over which, you said earlier, the four main denominations will effectively have a veto. You said that you would not proceed with it if they were to dissent. Where precisely will the voice of people who are not religious or who choose to raise their children in a non-religious setting be? It is important that, first, you say that you respect their input and, secondly, tell us how you expect their input to be represented.’

In response, the Minister said he did ‘not envisage’ putting a curriculum out for wider consultation without churches’ support, and characterised critics as a ‘small but very vocal minority’. He added that he would ensure they are not the ‘determinant factor’ and that churches ‘continue to have a specific role.’

The Terms of Reference also confirm the syllabus review will not cover the nature of collective worship, the right of withdrawal, or related inspection arrangements, stating these will be managed separately.

Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator commented:

‘While we welcome the review of the RE core syllabus following the JR87 judgment, it’s deeply concerning that churches are being given a formal role in shaping the content and even reviewing the final draft before the public consultation begins

‘Consultation cannot be meaningful if one set of stakeholders representing religious interests has an effective ‘sign-off’ before everyone else gets a say. Non-religious families need to know where their voice is in this process.’