Public Council of Ministry of Education and Science draws the bottom line of experimental course "Basics of religion and secular ethics"
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Public Council of Ministry of Education and Science draws the bottom line of experimental course "Basics of religion and secular ethics"
Ministry of Education and Science Public Council discusses results of experimental course "Basics of religion and secular ethics"
The Ministry's Public Council session was held on 7 November 2011. The main issue on the agenda was "Experiment progress of the basics of religion and secular ethics in 4-5 forms of secondary school." The Public Council session was attended by religious representatives and the Ministry's staff members.
Elaborating on the results of the experimental course "Basics of religion and secular ethics" State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Education and Science Igor Remorenko pointed out that the course was introduced in 21 constituent entities, and it was studied by about 480,000 pupils of 4-5 forms in 9,980 schools. I. Remorenko made a point of stressing that "the experiment principles were based on the secular state constitutional requirements, collaboration of regulatory bodies with religious organizations, contribution to mutual inter-confessional respect and cooperation and demands of citizens."
The "Basics of religion and secular ethics" comprehensive course incorporates six modules. 42% of families chose the "Basics of secular ethics" module, 30% opted for "Basics of Orthodox culture", 18% settled on "Basics of world religions", 9% -- "Basics of Islam", 1% -- "Basics of Buddhism" and less than 1% -- "Basics of Judaism".
According Alexander Adamsky, the member of Public Council and rector of Evrika Institute of Educational Policy, the experiment proved to be successful: "There were no outrages and few children's conflicts. In this context after the course introduction the changes in the system were effectively attained."
Member of the Public Council and editor-in-chief of the Echo of Moscow radio station Alexey Venediktov bolstered the idea to introduce a single module within the frame of the course. "The parents decide pursuing own interests. This course could become the major basis where a secular state allows you to learn about your family and a person sitting next to you." He stresses that if a pupil selects the "Basics of Islam" module, the course should provide additional lessons on basics of Orthodoxy, Buddhism and Judaism.
Svetlana Sorokina, member of the Public Council hosting the "V kruge sveta" radio program for the "Echo of Moscow" radio station believes that there should be an opportunity to study all religions within the framework of a single module as "at this age children have common interests."
Member of the Public Council, Director of Gymnasia N56 in St. Petersburg Maya Pildes noted that nurturing tolerance is an important social challenge, education gaps must be overcome. According to her statement, "teachers in primary school have great authority over the children, therefore, it is reasonable to introduce the course in the fourth form" lest summer vacation should interrupt it.
Alexander Chubaryan, Director of the World History Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and member of the Public Council says: "If the course is introduced in the secondary school it would be correct to opt for a single course of the world religions' history." He also stressed the importance of the course developing tolerance and respect to people with different life patterns.
Minister of Education and Science A. Fursenko attended the session of the Public Council and noted: "The course gave positive results because these issues are discussed in families more seriously now. The collaboration of different confessions in the course of our work became more open both in the center and in the regions where it was introduced." He also stressed that the ideas of the Public Council members would contribute to the development of the course "Basics of religions and secular ethics."
Editor in chief of "Ogonek", Chairman of the Public Council Viktor Loshak noted that the ideas the Public Council members had unveiled proved to be similar and in the near future the Council would submit the Ministry with the following proposals: think over possible corrections in the course and introduce a single module on basics of other religions and consider possible steps to start the course in the 4th or 5th form lest it should be interrupted by vacation.
