In the recent weeks students have sat the first papers of the new CCEA RE GCSE specification. In many ways nothing remarkable, yet when one considers the history of Religious Education in Northern Ireland, as well as the existing legislation, the formal teaching and assessment of world religions at Key Stage 4 as well as the study of denominational RE is nothing short of remarkable.
The CCEA specification offers students the choice of nine modules including:
The Christian Church (focusing on the Protestant and/or Catholic tradition); study of a Gospel (Matthew or Mark); Christian Ethics; Islam; Judaism; and the Philosophy of Religion.
To complete a half GCSE students choose one module and two for a full GCSE.
As it stands, the statutory syllabus for religious education in Northern Ireland does not include any world religions at Key Stage 4 and the legislation on teaching RE in in controlled schools in Northern Ireland forbids denominational teaching.
The broadening of the curriculum is certainly welcome but it remains to be seen when the statutory status of the subject will catch up with practice.
The CCEA specification offers students the choice of nine modules including:
The Christian Church (focusing on the Protestant and/or Catholic tradition); study of a Gospel (Matthew or Mark); Christian Ethics; Islam; Judaism; and the Philosophy of Religion.
To complete a half GCSE students choose one module and two for a full GCSE.
As it stands, the statutory syllabus for religious education in Northern Ireland does not include any world religions at Key Stage 4 and the legislation on teaching RE in in controlled schools in Northern Ireland forbids denominational teaching.
The broadening of the curriculum is certainly welcome but it remains to be seen when the statutory status of the subject will catch up with practice.
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