§ Lorna FitzsimonsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what considerations have been given to including Koranic teaching in schools under religious education sections in the National Curriculum. [90306]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeReligious education is required to be included, alongside the National Curriculum, as part of the basic curriculum. It has equal standing in relation to the National Curriculum subjects within a school's curriculum.
It is for the Local Education Authority to convene an agreed syllabus conference for the purpose of preparing an agreed syllabus for religious education. The local 279W education authority shall appoint constituent bodies consisting of persons representing such Christian denominations and other religions and denominations of such religions as, in the opinion of the authority, will appropriately reflect the principal religious traditions in the area. The role of a conference is to produce and recommend an agreed syllabus for religious education which meets fully the requirements of the 1988 Act and is educationally sound. Its recommendation must be unanimously agreed by the committees constituting the conference.
The Department issued Circular 1/94 Religious Education and Collective Worship that sets out the statutory position and gives guidance to governors, local education authorities and standing advisory committees on religious education on how to carry out their functions in regard to religious education.