Primary school pupils in Ireland will be spending less time learning religion under the biggest change in more than 20 years to the curriculum.
In new measures unveiled by the Department of Education, more time will be devoted to the core curriculum with a revised focus on foreign languages and wellbeing.
According to The Irish Times, the State’s advisory body signed off on the new measures contained in a new framework for the primary curriculum.
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The new framework is likely to be published by Minister for Education Norma Foley early in 2023, and sets out the planned structure and content of the next curriculum for primary schools.
The new curriculum was the subject of an extensive consultation process, overseen by NCCA.
It will guide the development of a new curriculum that will shape how children learn over the coming decades.
The NCCA has envisaged the completion of the development of all curriculum area specifications by summer 2026.
The report advises that the length of time spent teaching religion be cut by half an hour a week, from two-and-a-half hours a week to two hours.
Religion would be supported by a new curriculum on “religion, ethical and multi-belief education”, to give pupils a wider perspective on beliefs, the Irish Times reports.
Foreign languages from third class onwards would see students getting lessons for an hour a week on French, Spanish, German or whatever language is prioritised by the school.
Under the proposals, schools would also get more flexible time to spend on subjects considered a priority in individual schools, be that maths, languages or art.
It’s not the first time the recommendation has been raised.
In 2016 the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) developed a draft curriculum on a version of it, but it was shelved amid resistance from the Catholic Church to its introduction alongside faith formation classes.
The Irish Times adds that some reformers are keen to move faith formation outside the school day, but this has been resisted by faith-based schools.
The 1998 Education Act protects the right of schools to set aside time in each school day for subjects relating to the school’s mission and ethos.
The legislation does not demand the amount of time to be allocated.
It is expected that among the first children to be taught under the new curriculum will be born 2021 onwards.
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