Curia: 'Teachers' union should put forward concrete suggestions' on religion syllabus

The Curia invited the teachers' union to put forward 'well-thought and concrete suggestions' regarding religion syllabi in schools. 

A signed agreement between Malta and the Vatican in 1989 gives the Maltese Conference of Bishops the authority to design the religion syllabi in state schools. However, Malta Teachers’ Union President Kevin Bonello told MEP Therese Comodini Cachia on Thursday that the Ministry of Education should have more control over religious education in schools.

MaltaToday requested a comment from the Curia about whether they agreed with Bonello’s comments but they decided to release a statement instead. 

“Why such an agreement [The Malta-Vatican education agreement] is considered to be scandalous is very difficult to understand” a Curia statement said.

Bonello added that the way a lot of subjects are taught in schools simply forces children to learn a lot of “useless details”. However, while the government has launched a study on school syllabi to find out which parts of them are irrelevant, the ultimate responsibility for religious education lies on the Bishops’ Conference.
Bonello added that schools should teach children more important life-skills such as entrepreneurship, research, and social skills.

“Members of the Church Secretariat for Catechesis are in regular contact with the Education authorities in order to continue improving the curricula and the materials offered to Maltese students of religion,” the Church statement said.