The provision of religious education in schools across Northern Ireland
is set for a significant overhaul following a landmark legal ruling, with the
government announcing an independent review aimed at bringing the curriculum
into line with human rights standards. The Northern Ireland religious education
review comes after the UK Supreme Court ruled last year that the current system
of Christian-focused teaching does not fully comply with human rights law.
Despite the ruling, Stormont’s Education Minister Paul Givan has
stressed that Christianity will “remain central” to the revised syllabus,
reflecting what he described as Northern Ireland’s historical, cultural, and
legal context.
The Northern Ireland religious education review follows a Supreme Court
judgment that upheld an appeal brought by a pupil, known as JR87, and her
father. The case challenged the way religious education and collective worship
were delivered at a controlled primary school in Belfast in 2019. The court
reinstated an earlier ruling that the teaching failed to approach religion in
an “objective, critical and pluralist manner,” thereby breaching human rights
standards.
As part of the required curriculum at the time, the student had to take
part in non-denominational Christian religious education and group worship.
Since the ruling, education experts and human rights activists have called for
changes.
Addressing Members of the Legislative Assembly at Stormont, Givan
outlined plans for the Northern Ireland religious education review, confirming
it would be led by Professor Noel Purdy of Stranmillis University College and
former primary school principal Joyce Logue. The panel will be supported by a
drafting group of teachers drawn from across education sectors.
The process will also involve a lot of talking with churches, school
leaders, teachers, parents, and kids. The minister said that the goal is to
create a new syllabus that fully follows the Supreme Court's decision while
still making religious education a challenging academic subject.
Givan was clear that the Northern Ireland religious education review
would not remove Christianity from the heart of the curriculum. He said the
revised syllabus would continue to give prominence to Christianity, alongside
broader teaching on the world’s main religious and philosophical traditions.
Givan told the Assembly that "Christianity should and will continue
to be the main focus" because of the historical, cultural, and legal
context of Northern Ireland. He went on to say that Christianity still affects
cultural norms, public holidays, and civic life in the area. He said that not
teaching this would make it hard for students to understand the society they
live in.
The minister said that after talking to the public, he plans to put new
rules in place in the fall. The new syllabus will start in September 2027. He
said that it has been almost 20 years since the last time the religious
education syllabus was changed. He also said that the Northern Ireland
religious education review is part of a larger review of the curriculum that is
already happening.
Givan also said that religious education would be formally inspected in
all schools, making it on par with other core subjects. This was in addition to
changes to the curriculum.
In response to the court ruling, the Department of Education has also
published updated guidance clarifying the right of parents and pupils to
withdraw from religious education and collective worship. The move is seen as a
key part of ensuring compliance with human rights obligations as the Northern
Ireland religious education review progresses.
The Transferor Representatives' Council, which speaks for the Church of
Ireland, the Presbyterian Church, and the Methodist Church, was happy to hear
the news. The council said it was fully committed to the consultative process
and praised the choice to include religious education in the general inspection
framework.
The TRC said in a statement that religious education is one of the most
important subjects in school because it helps students think about big
questions and learn about what Christians and other people believe. The group
said again that it was committed to making sure that the Christian values
continue to be the foundation of Northern Ireland's education system.
Givan called the initiative a "measured and responsible
response" to the Supreme Court's decision. As the review of religious
education in Northern Ireland moves forward, it is likely to stay a hot topic
that people will be watching closely. It will have to find a balance between
legal obligations, religious tradition, and the region's increasingly diverse
society.
Also Read :- Global Education Expo 2026 Returns to the UAE, Connecting Students With Europe’s Top Universities