Less Christianity, more Islam and Hinduism, schools
ordered
A new religious syllabus for schools has caused a fury among church
groups and politicians after recommending teachers cut down on
education about Christianity while increasing lessons in Islam and
Hinduism.
Teachers in Buckinghamshire were directed to spend 40 per cent of
religious education on Christianity, while giving Islam and
Hinduism equal play at 20 per cent each.
Just ten percent was then to be devoted to other religions -
including Judaism - with a final ten per cent on "general
concepts".
It was recommended that younger children receive just 36 hours per
year of religious education, with that number upped to 45 in the
lead up to the GCSEs.
However when the lack of time devoted to Christianity sparked
protests, Buckinghamshire education authorities reportedly removed
those numbers from official documents.
Councillors accused authorities of a cover-up, saying that while
the need to teach children about other world religions is obvious
the lack of education on Christianity in a Christian country was
going too far.
However the Buckinghamshire County Council reportedly hit back
saying the changes would not impact taxpayers as printing errors
meant the document had to be redrafted anyway.
The council also insisted Christianity remained the focus of the
syllabus, and insisted the new policies provided flexibility for
the schools and promoted goodwill, seeking to inform rather than
influence children.
However critics reportedly insisted the nation's religion was being
turned in to a sideshow in the name of political correctness.