Questions and Answers
Religious Education in Schools

Will students be required to study courses in Religious Education?

• All students will be expected to study a common Religious Education program each year, unless their parents opt them out of such courses, as is the current practice.

• At the senior high school level, Religious Education courses will be available for course selection.

Will there be separate Religious Education courses for each denomination?

• No.

• Schools will be required to offer a common Religious Education Program to all students.

Who will develop courses in Religious Education?

• The Department of Education will develop common courses in Religious Education, in consultation with committees of teachers and other stakeholders, as is the practice for all other courses in the curriculum.

Who will teach Religious Education courses?

• School boards will be responsible for selecting teachers and assigning their duties.

• School boards would be expected to give consideration to the teacher's ability to teach the course

Will prayers continue to be part of the school program?

• Yes

• Schools will continue to operate in accordance with Christian principles, as they now do.

• Prayer will continue to be part of the school program as it has been in the past.

Will schools continue to observe Christian festivals such as Christmas and Easter?

• Yes

• Special religious observances of non-Christian groups may also be observed.

Will representatives of the clergy be permitted to visit the school?

• Yes

Will schools be permitted to establish pastoral care teams for students of individual denominations?

• Yes or the school might wish to establish one pastoral care team for all students.