Sharp cut in religious education” “

A new attack on the teaching of religion in Andalusia, Spain: the Technical Secretariat on Education of the bishops of southern Spain denounced the Andalusian government’s intention to cut the current teaching hours of Catholic religion in schools and its proposal of social values. In fact, the administration of the Government of Andalusia drew up a draft decree and a set of regulations which stipulate decreasing religious education in schools from 90 to 45 minutes per week, while devoting twice the hours of religion classes to new subjects. The bishops pointed out that the amount of time is not enough to ensure minimum quality education. The Technical Secretariat on education of the bishops of southern Spain highlighted inter alia that “the only subject with fewer hours in primary schools in Andalusia is that the teaching of religion and its alternative of social values”. Major concern. “These measures – pointed out the Technical Secretariat – testify to the Andalusian administration’s understanding of education as a tool for the transmission of content, and not as a means for the full development of human personality (art. 27.2 of the Spanish Constitution), as it overlooks basic formation in terms of religious and moral education” that could serve also as a response to the ongoing economic, political and social crisis”. The Technical Secretariat considers “this measure an unacceptable violation of art. 27.3 of the Spanish Constitution, providing for the right of parents to enable their children to receive religious and moral education in agreement with their beliefs”. It is also important to remember that “Catholic education is requested by 87% of Andalusian parents at the level of primary education, and that it enjoys large social consensus”. Not only: the Teaching Secretariat is concerned for the loss of jobs caused by this measure, involving 2700 teachers of religion in Andalusia. The Secretariat supports all measures adopted by religion teachers to defend their individual and collective rights. The bishops of Andalusia called upon the Andalusian Administration, in the person of its President, to issue a regulation on the teaching of religion compliant with the opinion of the majority of Andalusian parents, respectful of teachers’ profession. Teachers’ disappointment. Also Catholic religion teaching staff conveyed their major concerns. Unfortunately, the teachers pointed out, sharply decreasing the hours devoted to this school subject is legitimized by Lomce – Spain’s new Education Bill – which grants autonomous education departments the freedom to establish the timetable of religion classes in schools. Teachers protested the inadequacy of the timetable and highlighted the job insecurity that the contested measure will result in, with a heavy impact on households with one or both parents who are teachers of religion. The professors also recalled the information campaign, described as detrimental and “false”, carried out by some political parties, groups and associations opposed to the teaching of religion in public schools, a campaign according to which religion is strongly favoured by Lomce. Conversely, the teachers argue, this is the most discriminating bill against the teaching of religion among those approved so far. Awareness campaign. “We obviously think – state the teachers of religion of Andalusia – that all this corresponds to doctrinal, ideological and political criteria, and not to pedagogy. Moreover, it will affect the quality of public education in Andalusia”. On the other hand, teachers do not intend to stand idly by. In fact, a group of professors of religion in Málaga have called upon the Andalusian education administration to reconsider its proposal and keep the current timetable of religious education untouched. For this purpose, they announced a public awareness campaign to be carried out with various initiatives and mobilizations to defend their jobs and the rights of Andalusian public education.