‘Promote religious pluralism in schools’

Greater promotion of religious pluralism would make primary schools more inclusive, researchers say.

Their study of religious diversity in Irish schools says the need to overhaul the education system, which is dominated by religious congregations, reflects the significant social changes of the last few decades.

The Trinity College Dublin team of Daniel Faas, Merike Darmody, and Beata Sokolowska says the Irish system has an integrative approach to teaching about religions, rather than the opt-out opportunity afforded children at schools in some countries. Writing in the British Journal of Religious Education, they say: “As a multi-ethnic, multi-faith society, it is imperative that Ireland continues to strengthen a non-discriminatory perspective in education and promote religious pluralism.”