1st April 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A group of MPs has said that a shortage of religious education teachers could negatively affect community relations. Speaking in particular about tensions in multi-cultural areas, the All Parliamentary Group on RE said that religious education could play a key role in preventing conflict. They argued that if young people are given lessons on different faiths, it provides them the opportunity to consider religious and ethical issues from different points of view, leading to more tolerant attitudes. The group warned that although religious education played a key role in promoting tolerance, some government education policies are lowering the status of religious education in schools.
Of particular concern is the lack of trained religious education teachers, and the group’s report highlighted that over 50% of RE teachers in secondary schools had no qualification in the subject. They also noted that teaching assistants are often given charge of RE lessons in primary schools, and that Ofsted reports have highlighted the lack of confidence in teaching RE. MPs have said that this is a reflection of the government’s failure to support RE, and pointed to the government’s decision to remove RS from available GCSE short courses. They also highlighted concerns that the government’s education reforms are lowering the status of RE, and as such reducing incentives for teachers to specialise in the subject.
The MPs have said that rather than reducing the status of RE, now is the time to bring it to the forefront of education. Chairman Stephen Lloyd said that religions were often portrayed inaccurately by the media and in social understandings, and that teaching RE well in schools could help break down prejudice and misconceptions before they have a change to develop into conflict. RE, he said, is a way to ensure that students become informed and active citizens, as it allows them to discuss contentious issues and explore the reasons why misconceptions arise about different religious and cultural groups.