MUT: religion syllabus is ‘too heavy’ for Year 6
Curia says it works hand-in-hand with education authorities
“Are we expected to keep being fundamentalists and just teach them about the Bible?” – Archbishop’s delegate within the Secretariat for Catechesis.
The Year 6 religion syllabus seems to be evolving into a university theology course that is too demanding on students, according to the Malta Union of Teachers.
It said religion teachers, who did not have the complete syllabus in hand as yet, were concerned it was too heavy for 10-year-old students and loaded with extra facts to be memorised.
Students had to learn about the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Vulgate (a fourth century Latin translation of the Bible).
The union insisted the syllabus should not be drawn up solely by the Curia, without the input of education authorities.
“This new syllabus is very likely to estrange children and their families from religion rather than the other way round,” the union said.
Fr Renè Camilleri, the Archbishop’s delegate within the Secretariat for Catechesis that draws up the syllabus, insisted students were not being asked to memorise details but to know the minimum about important events.
In an age when children had easy access to information, religion could not be taught without making any mention of the Dead Sea Scrolls that were 20th century discoveries that raised questions about the Bible.
“Are we expected to keep being fundamentalists and just teach them about the Bible?
“They are not expected to memorise facts but are expected to learn the minimum,” he said when contacted.
Fr Camilleri said the Curia did work with education authorities in drawing up the syllabus.
According to the historic agreement between the Church and Government, the Church is given the task to draw up the religion syllabus.
An Education Ministry spokesman said the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education contributed to the development of the religion syllabus.
A Year 6 religion teacher, who wanted to remain anonymous, told The Times that last week he received the second chapter out of the 10-chapter syllabus. The target was to complete four chapters by the Christmas holidays.
“The new syllabus contains a lot of new information and we are not being given the time to prepare ourselves,” the teacher said.
While parts of the syllabus specified using examples children could understand, other sections provided “more information” for teachers without making it clear whether students would be examined on that content.
The teacher said the text books to be used by students had not yet been published and the syllabus required students to research in their Bible when not all had a copy of the “expensive” book at home.
“I am not saying it’s all wrong. Perhaps once teachers familiarise themselves it will be better,” the teacher said.
Fr Camilleri said according to the new mentality of the National Curriculum Framework, the syllabus was not about the textbook, which was currently being printed. There were many other resources, such as websites.
The MUT said it had written to the Education Minister and the Prime Minister to point out that teachers were still not equipped with proper resources and that the new syllabus promoted “outdated methodologies” based on learning many details.
The MUT appealed to the Minister to set up an urgent meeting with the Curia about the syllabus.
The union said it did not exclude taking action “to safeguard the professional integrity of its members”.
The ministry spokesman said the directorate planned to “undertake discussions with the Curia to build on the positive experiences and lessons learnt over the years”.
This would ensure the teaching/learning syllabus and related textbooks for Year 6, and for all compulsory school years, led to a fruitful and enjoyable formative experience, while ensuring assessment was formative and relevant.
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Victor Pulis
Nov 13th 2012, 18:42
Joe Zammit
Yesterday, 16:19
Facts are facts and no wishful thinking can erase them!
I agree with you on that one but not for the same reason!
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 16:26
This Sunday at Paola Parish Church ALL Maltese children among their peer group are going to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
That means 100% of our children will be there. Their parents want them to receive the sacraments founded by Christ and handed on to the Catholic Church.
W Cassar
Nov 12th 2012, 19:10
100%.... I doubt that... but on a lighter note I did not know Paola was considered all of Malta. I guess thats why the divorce issue did not pass... hang on it DID!
Victor Pulis
Nov 12th 2012, 19:17
Joe if someone hands me the religion syllabus I can easily teach it to children even though as you are well aware i'm an atheist. If I had to sit for the religion exam I'd pass with flying colours! all I have to do is write what the examiners wish to read! so don't feel so smug because 96% of maltese children receive the sacraments. it's tradition rather than piety.I baptised my son too.
Joe Zammit
Nov 13th 2012, 07:44
Victor,
Here the topic is on teaching and learning Religion, not on practising it. That's another question which we can discuss some other time.
Victor Pulis
Nov 13th 2012, 15:59
Joe you mentioned the children who are receiving the sacraments. |is that not practicing religion if not by the children then by their parents?!
Christian Grech
Nov 12th 2012, 14:08
Religion studies should just be thought from catechists in other various doctrine institutions like M.U.S.E.U.M etc..
Reasons being:
Catechists know more about religion than a primary school teacher
Children can concentrate more on core subjects which eventually lead to end of year exam(Junior Lyceum exams
Children at school can forget their faith difference, hence no religious discrimination
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 16:23
Religion is part and parcel of our culture. So Religion plays an important part in our school curriculum.
Maria Cachia
Nov 12th 2012, 16:48
Junior Lyceum exams do not exist anymore!!
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 17:19
Mr Grech
Religion is part and parcel of our culture. So Religion plays an important part in our school curriculum.
A. Axisa
Nov 12th 2012, 22:00
Or else, a teacher could teach religion only in the primary sector... like some schools are already doing at their own expense.
L Farrugia
Nov 12th 2012, 13:41
ALL syllabus of ALL subjects are TOO HEAVY. Year 4 - Year 5 - Year 6 - subjects are too vast - our 8 to 10 year olds are over stressed, over worked. Check the Social Studies syllabus - topics all have to be studied BY HEART. This topped up with the Maths, Maltese and English. SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE. We can't keep 'talking' and not 'doing' something about our education system.
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 13:11
96% of our Maltese children still attend lessons in Catholic truth. They and their parents want to receive the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, after Baptism, they want Holy Eucharist, Penance, Confirmation. They want to learn at school as well Catholic Religion only because they are convinced that in this Religion there is the whole truth Christ taught us.
I repeat: 96%!!
Mr Duncan Scerri
Nov 12th 2012, 13:45
Rubbish, Joe. The 96% figure is fundamentally flawed and is no way representative of the local population. To suggest otherwise is nothing more than wishful thinking. children are not born with a belief, they are brainwashed into it. That adults continue to believe such teachings is a form of Stockholm Syndrome.
Open your eyes. There is simply not enough space for comments to show you why...
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 16:19
Facts are facts and no wishful thinking can erase them!
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 17:18
Mr Scerri
Facts are facts and no wishful thinking can erase them!
Mr Duncan Scerri
Nov 12th 2012, 12:39
How many religions other than Christianity are part of the syllabus in these classes?
M Fava
Nov 12th 2012, 19:50
Correct me if I misunderstood you, but it seems that you are suggesting that primary students be thought more religious faiths other than Christianity. I am not a religious person but this article is about an already bulky religion syllabus. Does it honestly seem logical to you to suggest teaching MORE religious faiths? Another point is that we are living Malta (cont)
M Fava
Nov 12th 2012, 19:53
(cont) which is a primarily Roman Catholic country. Therefore, it is appropriate to teach Roman Catholic faith to our students. Just as only Maltese history is taught in general history, I believe that only Roman Catholic faith should be taught to Maltese students. If the students wish to further their religious studies, that is what sixth form is for (cont)
M Fava
Nov 12th 2012, 19:54
Teaching Roman Catholic faith does not brainwash our students, far from that. In fact, most of my schoolmates from secondary have discarded religious faith, despite being taught Christian faith for 10 years. Your comment is invalid.
J. Calleja
Nov 12th 2012, 11:38
The Religion Syllabub should be changed into Divinity classes or something of the sort: our children should be taught that Fundamentalist ideas are not good and that God is one and common for all religions. Let's stop giving power to priest of different sects and religion and start using our minds. The educator we have are more than doing their utmost to try and cope with an ever growing sylabbi
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 16:33
You mentioned God. God sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from sin and befriend us again with himself.
Christ came and founded one Church: the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Maltese and Gozitans want their children to be baptized in the Catholic Church, and receive the Sacraments administered by the Catholic Church.
Maltese parents love their children!!
Pippo de Marco
Nov 13th 2012, 07:56
@ Joe Zammit.
Do Maltese parents love their children any more or less than parents in those countries where Islam, or any other religion is taught as the one true faith ?
Does the Catholic Church offer the only route to God ? - If so, then the billions of non-Catholics must be doomed to burn in Hell. if not, then shouldn't our children be made aware that they can choose their route to God?
Joe Zammit
Nov 13th 2012, 08:35
Pippo
In Islam love plays an important part and Muslim parents love their children too like Maltese parents.
Yes, the Catholic Church offers the only route to God. Christ came on earth to save us from sin and hell and make us all children of God in grace, heirs to the kingdom of heaven. Those in other religions can be saved also but ONLY if they are in good faith.
D Portelli
Nov 12th 2012, 11:34
Back in my old days i used to fail most of the time in religion exams. I won't imagine myself oing it now.
Maria Cachia
Nov 12th 2012, 11:22
it's not a resistance to change.............the thing is teachers were not given the syllabus and work to be covered during the summer holidays so as to have time to prepare themselves................If knowledge is a bit thin then there must be enough time to research................
Joseph M. Grech.
Nov 12th 2012, 10:49
The usual resistance to change when it involves an extra effort to alter their previous teaching notes. I think part of the problem is that the teachers' knowledge about the Bible is a bit thin. As has been suggested the internet provides a good place for kids' research. Other subjects are taken seriously in that way so why should not religion. They should be prepared well for secondary school.
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 10:09
Dialogue is the best policy. A meeting for all teachers involved on Year 6 Religion syllabus is urgently needed.
All teachers and all those responsible for the syllabus must attend.
It's useless and immature to criticize and then sit back.
Daniela Attard
Nov 12th 2012, 09:50
I'm sorry but religious studies should be a way of teaching pupils about different faiths and living in harmony together not to brainwash children, I cannot believe the curia even has input on our schools!! If parents want to teach children the catholic faith this should be up to the parents not done at school, we must remember that we don't live in a 100% catholic country anymore!
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 11:50
96% of our Maltese children still attend lessons in Catholic truth. They and their parents want to receive the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, after Baptism, they want Holy Eucharist, Penance, Confirmation. They want to learn at school as well Catholic Religion only because they are convinced that in this Religion there is the whole truth Christ taught us.
I repeat: 96%!!
Dennis Quaid
Nov 12th 2012, 12:12
100% agreed
Joseph M. Grech.
Nov 12th 2012, 12:56
Ms Attard children with other faiths are exempted in all schools. As for parents teaching the catholic faith I very much doubt it as parents themselves are many a time at a loss in their faith. Also in catholicism children are thought to live in harmony most probably more than other faiths. And you can rest assured that the Church knows what's happening in schools.
Sarah Camilleri
Nov 12th 2012, 13:33
Religious education is nothing to do with brainwashing. It's essential for all children to understand our Christian heritage in order to understand our culture, history and literature. It's also positive to be brought up with an understanding of one religion - this can help you learn about others in the future.
W Cassar
Nov 12th 2012, 14:22
@ Joe
Convinced or brainwashed ? ... How can children chose if they are only shown one religion ?
If you were brought up in Saudi Arabia you would be a Muslim saying the same thing.
Think about it Joe!
Joe Zammit
Nov 12th 2012, 17:17
Mr or Ms Cassar
We are in Malta and Gozo where the great majority are Catholic. So this great majority want their children to learn the Truth, i.e. the truth that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, passed on to us through his one Catholic Church.
Parents give their children what is good for them: food, clothing, love, Catholic Faith, education, etc. They have a right to do that.
Please choose the reason of your report below: