Be the first to comment!MUT voices concerns on Religion Syllabus in Year 6 classes
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The Malta Union of Teachers has said today that a considerable number of members teaching year 6 classes have contacted the union to show their concerns regarding the Religion Syllabus being divulgated in Year 6.
MUT said that “in light of these serious concerns, its Officials have written to the Minister for Education and Employment, Dolores Cristina and copied to the Office of the Prime Minister and the Archbishop’s Curia to bring to their attention the following points:”
“First of all teachers are still not equipped with proper resources, and as yet there is no sign of the book
Children and parents are highly frustrated since they still have no books to work on for this subject
From details given to teachers so far, the religion syllabus seems to be evolving more into a theology course for university undergraduates rather than a simple religious syllabus for 10 year olds.
It appears that the new syllabus being designed is promoting outdated methodologies based on rote learning of many details which are hardly in the interest of any 10 year old (to give a few examples: 10 year old children are being expected to know about the Vulgata, about the dead sea scrolls, about various saints and martyrs, etc…)
This new syllabus is very likely to estrange children and their families from Religion rather than the other way round.”
The MUT continued by saying it is “appealing to the Minister’s office to set up an urgent meeting with the Curia about this syllabus. The MUT believes that, through the DQSE, the Education Authorities should be in control of whatever is being taught in schools in line with modern educational theories and practices.
“The fact that neither the DQSE, nor the Ministry, have any control over the religion syllabus which is issued solely by the Curia, needs to be addressed urgently. The MUT believes that, at the very least, such work should be done in partnership with the DQSE experts.”
“The Union is not excluding taking necessary action to safeguard the professional integrity of its members in this whole issue,” the statement concluded.
