
Religion and education … two separate roads?
I recently took part in a debate under the coordination of the House of Europe concerning the subject of religion in public schools in the unoccupied areas of Cyprus. The guest speakers were Dr. Eliana Hadjioannou, representing the Ministry of Education, the former minister of Education, Andreas Demetriou, Prodromos Prodromou, an MP of the Democratic Rally, Theodoros Kyriakou a theologian, Aristos Tsiartas and Ioannis Bekos, an ethics teacher at the University of Cyprus.
To start with, it was generally agreed that religion as a subject which promotes culture for our students as Greek Orthodox Christianity was based mainly in Europe. The religion of Greek Orthodox Christianity has laid in Cyprus for approximately 2000 years and we simply cannot deny it or forbid its teaching. However, a person in the audience (of whom I cannot recall her name) pointed out that the history of religion is not being entirely taught in our schools. She explained that when Christianity needed to prevail, the eradication of Hellenism had to be in order, citing the massacre in Athens. Religion in schools can also be misinterpreted or misguided as it can be very easily be used as a tool to spread nationalism in the young minds of students. If we wanted to teach culture through religious studies, then why is not in our curriculum the studies of other religions for example Hinduism and Buddhism, since they have an excellent link with philosophy and culture in eastern countries, I asked.
It was pointed out that if other religious teachings- for example the Koran- were introduced to the syllabus, then its “immoral” aspects- in particular its viewpoint on gender roles-would arise within the classroom. However, if we read through Christianity’s Old Testament, similar inappropriate teachings can be found, with cannot be revealed- as a teacher pointed out- without considering examples.
It would seem that students are not the only group needing to undergo an education scheme. Professor Ioannis Bekos pointed out that if we are going to teach moral values through religion, then we are certainly going to have to assure ourselves that the person teaching these values is an appropriate one! He suggested a system where the teachers would undergo training sessions about ethics and the means in which they must be taught! Since as a subject, religion is very controversial, the teacher would have no right to take sides and express their religious opinions.
It was generally agreed that this subject ought to contain more incentives for critical thinking by the student rather than simply asserting a position. A priest in the audience pointed out a very interesting fact; that private catholic schools in the United States score significantly more on the SATs than other state schools. But perhaps, this can be linked to the fact that many religious schools require fees, thus more committed teachers are employed and a higher standard of education is provided.
Moreover, I pointed out that there is a lack of dialogue between the youth of the two communities regarding this matter and that more facilitation is required. A teacher from a bi-communal school in Limassol backed me, by stating that this is entirely feasible citing that in his classroom where religion was taught based on Christianity and that the students participated in highly civilized and fruitful discussions.
Democratic rally MP, Prodromos Prodromou, took a rather harsh stance by believing that those who do not comply with the religious education curriculum beliefs should either leave the school or undergo the class. This would be in order to preserve Cyprus’ religious culture and perhaps stop it from becoming from religiously diverse. However, the audience was in shock and screamed that this is a violation of fundamental rights.
In all public schools, students are required to go to a Greek Orthodox church once a while. A teacher and a mother from the audience, asked with apprehension, that why should our children at such a young age with no proper critical thought be sent to Church with blatantly no other clear options. Former ΚΥΠRIS News writer, Isaias Taliadoros backed her by saying that if a student is not present during church then he is punished with an absence.
In conclusion, it would seem that this discussion is usually held among adults, since there were only two teenagers in the audience. The government must find ways to incorporate critical thinking into the subject of religion and when the student body is mature to allow the teaching of the other religion which permeates in Cypriot society, Islam. It is detrimental that proper discussion is held among the students, with the teacher as a neutral coordinator. Professor Bekos, underlined the necessity of “educating” the educators in an ethics course which can allow them to assume that role.