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by John Donnelly

At a time where religious intolerance appears to be on the rise here in New South Wales, a shining example of religious harmony and collaboration can be seen in Special Religious Education (SRE) in public schools.

SRE in public schools offer families with a faith-based worldview the unique opportunity for their children to be educated in their religion during school time.

NSW is one of the most multicultural societies in the world and there is a wide variety of religions represented in this mix.

While Christian churches have worked together for over 120 years to provide religious education in NSW public schools, SRE is now available not only for students of Catholic, Orthodox and other Christian faiths, but also for Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim students as well, with Special Education in Ethics offered to families who do not seek religious instructions for their kids.

SRE field officers have worked with over 50 schools to establish hundreds of classes to begin this school year. This equates to a significant contribution to the education and spiritual well-being of hundreds of thousands of students in NSW public schools.

True Diversity

Despite the efforts of small, vocal, naysaying lobby groups, parents clearly value the benefit SRE provides to their children. After seven years of working with the NSW Department of Education on improving procedures, SRE classes are increasing and the number of students engaged is growing and is set to double over the next three years.

It also has strong bipartisan support.

Last November at the SRE Celebration in Parliament House, Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car reiterated the Labor Party’s commitment to the provision of SRE in school time. This sentiment was echoed by Shadow Assistant for Education Matt Cross on behalf of the Liberal Party.

Many churches and faith groups too are encouraged that SRE is flourishing and are united in their praise for the diversity of religious instruction available in public schools. By 2028, the multi-faith fabric of all local communities will be reflected in the SRE and Ethics programs of their schools, including families whose worldview does not include religion.

Ronnen Grauman of the NSW Board of Jewish Education suggests SRE allows Jewish students to explore and appreciate the diversity around them while staying true to their own beliefs. “Understanding their own religious tradition can also make them more empathetic and respectful toward others, fostering a sense of tolerance and mutual respect.”

Ayesha Ahmad of the Islamic Council said, “Muslim families can then help their children develop a deeper understanding of their faith, guiding them to grow into well-rounded individuals who can maintain their religious identity and navigate modern society with confidence.”

Swami Shrikarananda (Hindu – Chinmaya Mission) believes “Our nation is built and sustained by children, who are our future. Give them values and love of God instead of valuables. For such children and nations, the possibilities are limitless. SRE serves as the cornerstone in building this.”

Venerable Zhi Li (Nan Tien Temple) takes a similar view in relation to individuals, saying, “Buddhist SRE is important in Australia as it provides children with ethical and spiritual guidance rooted in wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness. It fosters moral development, inner peace, and respect for all, contributing to a more harmonious and inclusive society.”

Craig Roberts (Anglican Youthworks CEO) says, “One of the unique strengths of SRE in NSW is the way Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox and Pentecostal disciples of the Lord Jesus collaborate to give public school kids the chance to explore faith and discover life in Jesus. We are so much more powerful and effective — and blessed! — when we choose to work together.”

Encouraging Growth

Roberts maintains that as churches continue to resource SRE at all levels, more parents choose SRE in Public Schools for their kids, and this is good for them, their schools and for our society.

Dave Phillips (Presbyterian Youth NSW) adds, “Equally, it helps churches to be part of the school community and think about how they can be of service to the school.”

To strengthen this growth, all SRE providers, including the 11 Catholic dioceses in NSW, will continue to improve authorisation procedures, develop engaging curricula and deliver effective training to make it easier than ever for volunteers to become quality SRE teachers and coordinators.

The new director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Juliette Morched, proudly announced, “This year, CCD Sydney expanded training options across the Archdiocese, offering both online and in-person sessions. Around 300 new, returning, or current Catechists and Helpers have participated, with evening online sessions continuing to grow in popularity.”

Careful screening, modern curriculum and effective training equips twenty-first-century SRE volunteers to make a significant contribution to the faith life and spiritual well-being of students across the state. This is modern ministry at its best.

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John Donnelly is the Chair of the Inter-Church Commission on Religious Education in Schools.

Republished with thanks to The Catholic Weekly. Image courtesy of Adobe.