European Religious Education Policy

Abstract

Religious education in schools in Europe must comply with the human rights principles expressed in relevant international human rights conventions and with the case-law produced by supranational courts such as the European Court of Human Rights. Moreover, in recent decades, European organisations such as the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe have published recommendations, guidelines and reference books concerning religious education in schools. Even though it is early to claim that there is a coherent and homogenous European religious education policy, there is at least a tendency towards unifying it. Therefore, this article discusses the European religious education policy, particularly its principles, namely religious education's place in schools, its model and aims, the right of withdrawal from religious education, and consultation with relevant stakeholders. It is a qualitative research study, which adopts document analysis. The implications of the European religious education policy for national religious education policies are also discussed.

Keywords

• religious education
• european religious education policy
• state schools
• right of withdrawal