‘Waste of time’: Religious instruction policy slammed

The state government has been urged to review its controversial religious instruction policy, with parents and professionals both finding it a waste of time for many students.

Thousands of Queensland students are “wasting” an hour a week reading or revising instead of learning new information while their peers are taught religious instruction, education insiders say.

The state government has been urged to review its controversial religious instruction policy which allows volunteer groups to deliver an hour of approved “lessons” a week.

The Courier-Mail can reveal about one third of students from Years 1-12 were given consent from their parents to learn RI last year.

Further, department of education data showed 608 state schools, about half overall, “indicated” that RI was delivered at their school.

Lobby group Queensland Parents for Secular State Schools has led the charge in calling for the state government to review its century-old policy.

The group has spent much of the past decade pushing for changes that would allow nonparticipating children to spend the hour doing curriculum-based learning.

Alison Courtice. Image/Josh Woning

Parental group spokeswoman Alison Courtice said when her daughter Lauren attended primary school she would spend the hour doing word searches while her classmates learnt RI.

Ms Courtice questioned why nonparticipating students were not allowed to learn anything new during RI.

Education Minister Grace Grace confirmed the state government had no plans to change its legislation or policy on RI.

“There has been a longstanding provision for religious instruction in state schools for many years,” she said.

“It is not compulsory for students at Queensland state schools, and any RI that does take place cannot exceed one hour per week.

“Where it does take place, the policy is clear: students who don’t participate receive other supervised instruction, such as reading or research, in a separate location.”

According to the department of education’s website, nonparticipating RI students must be provided with another instruction that relates to part of an existing subject area already covered in class.

“(It) may include personal research or assignments, revision of class work or online programs like Mathletics or Reading Eggs.”

Secretary Teachers, Professional Association Queensland, Tracy Tully. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Teachers Professional Association of Queensland secretary Tracy Tully said religious instruction was often a “waste of time” for nonparticipating students.

The former principal said while the policy was well intended, she said schools had “headaches” managing RI and that nonparticipating students would potentially spend the hour “playing games”.

“Unless a school has good leadership and manages all timetabled lessons with quality education, it basically becomes a time out (for the kids) and they get used to it,” Ms Tully said.

“It’s a waste of time. An hour a week does add up when they’re there for curriculum and to learn.”

Ms Courtice said religious instruction could have a place in an approved curriculum if it was used for education purposes to teach students about different cultures.

“If religion is going to be included, it should be in a comparative way, taught by teachers and part of an approved curriculum,” she said.

Ms Tully said she too, along with the parental group, had concerns that religious instruction was not being taught by teachers.

“Schools are not the place to force religion on kids,” Ms Tully said.

“In my view, religion is like politics, something that should be done outside as a family.”

Originally published as ‘Waste of time’: Religious instruction policy slammed